Shops extending a stall or two along the roadside to sell lights and other decorative items during Diwali is a common annual feature for the festive season. However, keeping the risks involved, Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC) has initiated action against street encroachment to prevent Covid rule violation during shopping for Diwali. As encroachments lead to congestion.

Instructions in this regard have been given by DMC to different shop keepers to desist from any encroachment of the road leading to congestion.

Talking to The Telegraph Online, Anil Kumar, Food Inspector of DMC, said, “We will begin the inspection drive from tomorrow. We will be visiting Bekar Bandh area, where we will convince the shop keepers and particularly those engaged in selling Puja related articles, besides decorative articles and food outlets among other.”

He added, “We have also carried out a similar drive at Bank More area earlier this week during which we issued stern warning to shopkeepers extending their shops along the pavement or road side area near Urmila Towers. We will visit the area again, tomorrow.”

He further maintained that restaurants and food outlets engaged in selling sweets often put up tents outside their shops to cater to the increased demand, this often leads to roadside congestion and traffic snarls.

“We also appeal to trade body Federation of Dhanbad Zila Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its over 50 units spread across the district to convey the message to the shopkeepers on the behalf of DMC. This comes as a preventive measure to avert the possible rise of Covid cases during the festive season when large numbers of people are also returning to their respective homes to celebrate Diwali and Chhath,” said Kumar.

“Any compromise with the Covid guidelines may prove fatal,” said Kumar.

Welcoming the drive, Prabhat Surolia, President of Bank More Chamber of Commerce said, “We welcome the DMC initiative. But we are also appealing to the administration not to penalize the shopkeepers only but also to take action against the encroachment of parking lots which adds on to traffic snarls in the market places.”