Srikakulam: Traders unhappy over lockdown restrictions

Srikakulam: The traders in the district are unhappy over the continuation of lockdown restrictions. Though the government relaxed norms for public transport and running of commercial units, there is no rationale in continuing restrictions on the cloth, shoe and jewellery businesses, the merchants and traders stated in a meeting conducted at district level here on Sunday under the aegis of Chamber of Commerce Srikakulam unit.

Speaking on the occasion, the merchants and traders of cloth, jewellery and shoe marts expressed their dissatisfaction over continuation of restrictions on their business activities when all other activities are allowed. Even some traders questioned the rationale behind in continuation of restrictions on cloth, jewellery and shoe marts when government allowed hotels and public transport. They decided to put pressure on the government for relaxation of restrictions on their business in the meeting.

The district has 2,000 cloth shops, 700 jewellery shops and 500 shoe marts.

Owners of all these shops attended the meeting and expressed their dissatisfaction. "Due to closure of shops for months together caused damage to cloths and shoes and its material which is additional loss for the traders as they already lost their business due to lockdown for 60 days," stated Chamber of commerce Srikakulam district unit president Patnala Srinivasa Rao. Persons working in all these shops also losing their wages for the last two months due to complete closure of business activities, traders elaborated.

All these merchants and traders submitted a memorandum to the YSRCP Srikakulam MLA, Dharmana Prasada Rao in this regard and explained their problems. The MLA assured to bring this issue to the notice of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and tried to do justice to thesemerchants.