By: Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar: With a decline in Covid-19 positive cases, the deputy commissioner Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad on Monday issued fresh orders for all restaurants in the district, directing them to open for in-dine at 50 percent of the total capacity.
In an order issued by the chairman District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Srinagar states that all restaurants shall be allowed to open for in-dine from 07:00 am till 08:00 pm for non- check-in customers and till 10.00 p.m. for in-house/resident guests at 50 percent of total capacity and only for such customers who are vaccinated or are carrying a negative RT-PCR or RAT report of 48 hours prior.
“The owners/staff/managers of the establishments shall ensure strict compliance to the COVID appropriate behavior. Restaurant owners shall maintain a register at the entry point to record vaccination status of the visitors. Tehsildar concerned shall inspect such registers on a daily basis. Any deviation/non-compliance shall be the responsibility of owners/managers of such establishments,” reads the order.
It reads that the enforcement squads already constituted shall ensure compliance of these directions by all restaurant owners within their jurisdictions and shall initiate proceedings in case of violation/non-compliance.
The order further reads that weekend curfew from Friday 08:00 pm till Monday 07:00 am and daily night Curfew from 08:00 pm till 07:00 am next day shall continue to remain in force in the district.
It also stated that only 50 percent of the shops in indoor shopping complexes/Malls shall be allowed to open at a particular time as per the schedule already issued by this office.
RAK Prez welcomes decision, thanks authorities
President Restaurant and Cafe Association of Kashmir (RAK), Sheikh Feroz has welcomed the decision of Srinagar administration to allow restaurants to function with 50% capacity in Srinagar.
In a statement Feroz said that it’s a huge respite for people associated with the industry. “Due to successive lockdowns, the industry has been adversely hit especially due to pandemic enforced lockdown and restrictions.”
The statement said that the RAK president had previously accompanied the KCCI delegation led by general secretary, Farooq Amin, and apprised the authorities of the plight of the people of this industry and the impact of continuous restrictions on livelihood of the people associated with the industry.
The sector which employs thousands of people and is a source of livelihood for thousands of families, the delegation had urged authorities to allow reopening of restaurants and assured that proper Covid-19 SOP’s will be followed in order to contain the contagion.
Even though, following the easing of lockdown, the restaurants had started functioning in Kashmir, only take away and home delivery facilities were available.
The, RAK president thanked the KCCI especially its president, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, and general secretary, Farooq Amin for their support, cooperation and assistance in raising issue with the higher authorities and help the suffering industry.
He also expressed his deep gratitude to Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, PK Pole, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Mohammed Aijaz for listening to the issues and acknowledging the difficulties of the industry and people associated with it and promptly issuing orders allowing reopening of the restaurants.
