Traders badly hit by lockdown now face action

Aurangabad, May 23:

Traders from the city who were financially affected by lockdown are being levied a fine of Rs 5,000-25,000 for flouting COVID norms.

It may be noted businessmen experienced a substantial economic loss in the first wave. Anyhow they reestablished their business even after losing business in big festivals seasons like Diwali, Ramzan Eid. The second wave of pandemic started.

The traders again had to shut down the establishment.

They had to pay shop rent, electricity bill, employee wages, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and medical expenses of Rs 5 to Rs 6 lakh of family members infected from the pandemic virus. Some of them lost their family members in the second wave. Only a few landlords waived the rent considering the lockdown.

Despite these odds, they are facing the situation with the hope that life would return to normalcy.

Now, the administration started taking strict action like sealing shops, police case and levying fine between Rs 5,000-Rs 50,000. The traders are disturbed by this action.

There are around 5,000 small, bit hotels and restaurants in the city, which is the tourist capital of the State. Around 40,000 to 50,000 people work in this sector. There are 18,000 hawkers, while 50,000 persons are dependent on them.

Clothe merchants, owners of electronic goods, saloon, garage, paan kiosks shop were hit badly in the second wave.

Zilla Vyapari Mahasangh Jagannath Kale said that a trader who flouts norms could not be justified.

“However, a trader should be served a notice if he violates any norms the first time. Lodging police complaint and collecting a fine of Rs 5,000-Rs 25,000 is not affordable,” he added.