Anupreet Singh :
SAS Nagar/Mohali, May 2, 2020: The state government has announced today, that shops in Punjab’s green and orange zones will open between 9 am to 1 pm, instead of 7 am to 11 am.
However, there would be no relaxations in red and containment zones.
The decision to change the timings from the current 7-11 am has been taken in response to requests from people in various districts to open the shops after 9 am, said the chief minister. The new curfew hours are two hours longer than currently given. Punjab’s curfew hours currently are from 7-11 am.
“The issue also came up for discussion during the Cabinet meeting, and there was consensus that the timings should be changed in the public interest,” an official spokesperson said.
Continuing with his policy of ‘relief with strictness’, CM Amarinder Singh made it clear that anyone found venturing out of their homes without wearing a mask would be strictly dealt with. He said he had issued strict directives to the police department to challan anyone has seen outside without a mask. “The relaxations come with strict protocols, which the people need to follow,” said the chief minister, adding that the relief had been provided to make life easier for the people and not to come out unnecessarily.
Amarinder Singh has also directed the police to come down heavily on those found violating the curfew restrictions or otherwise disrupting the state’s law and order. “We will not tolerate such actions,” he warned, adding that no laxity would be allowed in this regard, with section 144 also strictly in place.