All shops and commercial establishments of Dhanbad district affiliated to 55 units of the Federation of Dhanbad Zila Chamber of Commerce and Industry will remain open only between 9am to 5pm, as per a decision arrived at on Wednesday during a meeting with the district administration held under the chairmanship of SDO Raj Maheshwaram.

Milk parlours and medicine shops have, however, been exempted from the 9am to 5pm timeline. The SDO said OCs of all police stations would visit markets and commercial areas and take action against anyone violating the time limit.

He also sought the help of the federation’s officer bearers, especially the president and secretaries of its 55 units, to help the police administration by providing information about those who weren’t following the timeline.

Maheshwaram also instructed shopkeepers to strictly follow social distancing norms and carry out regular sanitisation of the premises, wear masks and insist on customers to do the same, not allow trials in case of garment shops, and operate with a minimum workforce.

“The district administration will felicitate shopkeepers who help us ensure that all rules are obeyed. They should also work as volunteers by providing us with inputs regarding shops/outlets violating social distancing norms,” the SDO said.

Federation president Chetan Goenka and others pointed out that despite orders to the contrary issued on July 10, street food stalls were operating across the town with impunity. To that, Maheshwaram promised action.

“We will ensure action against such street food stalls. Also, vegetable sellers will have to operate from the new places designated to them during the lockdown in order to ensure social distancing norms are followed. They will not be allowed to return to their original place,” the SDO said.

Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce had only on Tuesday decided to ask all shops and business establishments to stay open on three days in a week in view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus.