Kolkata: The West Bengal government allowed stand-alone shops, including those selling liquor, to operate for three hours — 12 pm to 3 pm — from Tuesday.
On May 28, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the extension of the restriction till June 16. Curbs on retail had been enforced on May 16 to stem the spike in Covid cases across the state.
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Only grocery stores and daily essential markets were allowed to operate from 7 am to 10 am. With a decline in the number of infections since the restriction came into effect, the state has now announced some relaxation to shops. Owners of off-shops are now awaiting an Excise department order.
There are 350 bars (on-shops) apart from over 1,500 off-shops and country spirit shops in Kolkata. The total figure in Bengal will be over 7,000 taking together both bars and off-shops.
A few weeks back, owners of liquor off-shops are urging the Excise department for timing in a single stretch without interruption like the jewellery trade. Most of the liquor off-shops in the city are facing a tough time for over a week following the clarification issued on May 1 by the Excise department following an order of state chief secretary restricting hours for markets in the wake of Covid second wave.
Most liquor shops have witnessed a major decline ever since an order from the state chief secretary on May 1 restricted the hours for markets and stores selling non-essential items in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.