Relief given to traders in curfew time and work commendable: Bhupinder Basant

Ludhiana: Mr. Bhupinder Basant, Senior Vice Chairman, Punjab Traders Board (Excise and Taxation) - constituted by Capt Amarinder Singh Government, has appreciated the order issued today by District Magistrate Ludhiana Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma wherein he has given some relief to traders in curfew time and work.

Mr. Basant said in a statement today that according to the new order of the District Magistrate, now all the shops can be opened from 5 am to 1 pm. In this way, the opening time of shops has been increased by one hour, there was a demand from shopkeepers to increase the time limit for opening of shops. Along with this, restaurants have been allowed for home delivery of food till 8 pm, which is a commendable step.

He said that he had raised these problems of traders and shopkeepers and restaurant owners in front of local MLA and Punjab Minister Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma and told that at present they have to suffer huge financial loss due to the epidemic. Therefore, they should be given some relief.

Mr Basant thanked the Chief Minister of Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh, Cabinet Minister Mr  Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma for the relief given to traders, shopkeepers, restaurant owners etc. today.

Mr Basant said that Punjab's hotel and restaurant industry is in crisis due to the Corona pandemic. He said that the labour working in this industry is mostly related to the outside states, and it is becoming difficult for the hotel and restaurant owners to keep the labour with them in absence of the work.

He hoped that the new order issued today would definitely bring relief to the traders community of Ludhiana. He also hoped that with the steps being taken by the Punjab government and with the cooperation of people from all segments, the epidemic would be completely brought under control and the situation would return to normalcy, and the traders community would be able to do its business as before.