A delegation of electronic goods store owners on Tuesday requested East Singhbhum deputy commissioner (DC) Ravi Shankar Shukla to permit them to start selling electronic appliances online in the steel city.

The shop owners approached the DC after getting calls from customers to either buy ACs and refrigerators or to get these appliances serviced as summer sets in.

Owners of the electronics shops, including leading ones such as National Electronics, Sachdeva Sales and Electrokraft, went together to the DC's office, but the DC asked only one person to meet him in keeping with social distancing norms.

Raja Singh, owner of National Electronics, met the DC and handed him a memo, requesting permission to start online sales.

“I requested the DC to let us start selling electronic appliances especially air-conditioners and refrigerators online in view of the summer season,” Singh said. “I explained that we will not open our showrooms, but will need to operate from the godown itself on getting bookings online. To sell ACs and refrigerators online, the shopkeeper has to install these items, specially ACs, with the help of technicians. Technicians who visit customers will take necessary steps such as sanitising hands and maintaining social distancing,” he added. “The DC heard our plea patiently and assured us of a decision in the next four or five days.”

Residents whose ACs and refrigerators are malfunctioning are facing a harrowing time. “My refrigerator has not been working since the past one week and food is getting spoilt,” said Saumitra Sinha, a resident of Bistupur.

Complaints are also pouring in from medical stores whose refrigerators are not working.