Team Herald
PONDA: The government may have extended the State-wide curfew, but this decision has not prevented the “non-essential” shop owners from keeping their premises shut in Ponda taluka.
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Pondaites were surprised to find the shops dealing in electrical goods, TV, washing machines, cellphones, auto spares, e-bikes, stationery, etc, open in the morning. However, these shops remained closed in the evening. Even a hotel was reportedly providing service to customers in the Ponda Market.
Some Ponda locals said several migrants were doing brisk business along the roadside selling vegetables, fish and tarpaulin which may have prompted the local owners to keep their shops open.
Pondaites have called upon the government to allow the shops selling non-essential goods to operate twice or thrice a week in morning.
Meanwhile, with the monsoon around the corner, the locals have demanded that the government allow the shops selling umbrellas and rainwear to open.
The locals said during the curfew only pharmacies and the shops selling essentials earned while the rest suffered.
Several people who were employed at the non-essential shops have been rendered jobless.
Meanwhile, Pondaites are struggling to engage labourers to undertake repairs of their houses as most workers have left for the native places on account of the curfew extension.
