GHMC seals 14 shops, including Prestige, Mobile Planet, for violating lockdown

Hyderabad: Officials of the GHMC's directorate of enforcement vigilance and disaster management (EV&DM), on 13 May, sealed 14 stores in Alkapuri, Snehapuri colony, Saidabad, Ameerpet, and Banjara Hills for running their business in violation of the Telangana government's lockdown orders.

The shops that were sealed during the inspection included Ikon Air condition services located at SP Road in Secunderabad, the Marble Craft in Snehapuri colony, Ravinder Steel Palace in Dilsukhnagar, Aali Study Centre in Saidabad, and Sriya Flexi Printer in Ameerpet. Four stores in Alkapuri - Siri Watch & Mobile Store, Padmavathi Bangle & Fancy Store, New Jaya Steel Palace, and Prestige Exclusive Store - and five in Banjara Hills - Mobile Planet, Fashion Planet, Peony Kids Store, Jio Digitals (Mobiles & Accessories), and Suvasa (readymade garments store) - were also sealed on Wednesday.

The director of EV&DM, Viswajit Kampati, in a statement, said, “We started conducting extensive inspections throughout GHMC limits from 11 May to find out if any shops have opened illegally. Any shop, establishment, super market, wine shop, or hardware store that reopens under the relaxations given by the government must follow the guidelines, like providing hand sanitisers, wearing masks, and maintaining social distancing.”

In view of the continued need for measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state, the government has decided that lockdown measures shall continue till 29 May. Only shops selling construction material, hardware, and equipment/machinery for agricultural operations like pump-sets are permitted to remain open in addition to those selling essential goods.

During the lockdown, several activities and public places will remain prohibited or closed throughout the state irrespective of the zones, including domestic and international air travel of passengers; passenger train operations, except special trains for stranded persons; inter-state buses for public transport and movement of individuals by other means except for reasons as permitted by the government; inter- and intra-district buses for movement of passengers; Metro rail services; all schools, institutes, colleges, educational/coaching/training centres; hospitality services like hotels and lodges, except those accommodating health, police, government functionaries, and stranded persons; bars, pubs, cinema halls, theatres, shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools, sports complexes, amusement and zoo parks, museums, and auditoriums; all gatherings for social, political, sports, entertainment, academic and cultural purposes; all religious places and places of worship; all religious congregations.

On 14 March, the Telangana government had issued orders to shut down all educational institutions till 31 March and parks, theatres, museums, gymnasiums, bars and pubs, cultural events, sports events, conferences, and workshops till 21 March. The dates had been further extended till 7 May.