Small traders in city flout time restrictions, 150 shops sealed

According to a Chennai Corporation official, some shops were closed after they were found to be functioning even after the permitted hours. “We have clearly instructed the shops to down shutters at 1 pm and issued repeated warnings,” the official said.

Apart from the supermarkets and grocery stores, the officials had sealed nearly 60 meat shops for social distancing norms violations on Sundays. The civic body has formed zonal level flying squads to check the violations and dedicated them the power to put the shops violating norms under lock and key at the spot itself.

“The sealed shops could only be opened after three months after availing permission from the Chennai Corporation. Following the action, shop owners are following norms,” the Corporation official said.

The Chennai corporation had permitted select grocery shops and supermarkets to home deliver food items to avoid crowds in shops. It had also put up the list of shops that were granted permission to home deliver essentials and groceries on its website.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation has given emergency travel passes to more than 4,000 persons and as many as 457 passes for essential service and commodities providers. The civic body had already extended the validity of the essential services passes to May 3.