Shops, including liquor vends, will open in green and orange zones across districts from 9 am to 1 pm from tomorrow. There will, however, be no relaxations in red and containment zones.
The decision to change the timings from the current 7 am to 11 am has been taken in response to requests from people in various districts to open the shops after 9 am, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said after the issue came up for discussion during today’s Cabinet meeting. He asked the Chief Secretary to issue necessary directives to DCs to notify the changes.
Officials in the Excise and Taxation Department said though the green light to open liquor shops had been given from tomorrow, it might take at least a couple of days to coordinate with the Deputy Commissioners to identify the liquor shops that could be open in green and orange zones, other than containment pockets.
Amarinder has also directed the police to come down heavily on those found violating the curfew restrictions or otherwise disrupting the state’s law and order.
