Chandigarh (Media Bureau) Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced that shops in all the districts of the state in Green and Orange Zones would now be open from 9 am to 1 pm from today. No discount will be given in red and limited zones. The Chief Minister said that at present the decision to reopen the shops from 7 am to 11 am was taken due to the demand of the people from different districts to open the shops after 9 am. He said that the changed times have been done keeping in view the convenience of the people. An official spokesperson said that the matter was also taken up in the Cabinet meeting and it was agreed to change the time of exemption keeping in view the interest of the people.
Capt. Amarinder Singh asked the Chief Secretary to issue necessary guidelines to the Deputy Commissioners for notifying the change in time. Adhering to his policy of ‘Strict Relief’, Capt Amarinder Singh made it clear that strict action would be taken against anyone who went out of his house without a mask to fetch essential items. The Chief Minister said that he had given strict instructions to the police to issue challans to those who came out without masks. The Chief Minister said that relaxation of curfew
would come only with strict protocol which would have to be adopted by the people. He said that relief has been provided to make the life of the people comfortable and people should not go out without any reason.
Capt Amarinder Singh directed the police to take stern action against those violating the curfew or disturbing law and order. “We will not tolerate such acts,” he warned. He said that due to the implementation of section 144 in the state no leniency would be allowed in this regard.
The Chief Minister clarified that his government would make all necessary arrangements for the repatriation of Punjabis stranded in foreign states and repatriation of other stranded people including migrant workers. He said that the state government was working closely with other states on this issue and he had also appealed to the central government to run special trains which would run for the next few days as the railways were currently recruiting migrant workers from South India. Is engaged in arrangements to bring.
