Twenty per cent grocery shops will open in Guwahati on Monday (July 6) and Wednesday (July 8) as the government decided to introduce partial relaxation to the 14-day lockdown.

The lockdown in Guwahati has been in force since June 28 night and will continue till July 12.

State Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, in an order, said that grocery shops have been allowed to operate between 11 am and 4 pm on Monday and Wednesday

“However, the Deputy Commissioner will issue requisite directives to ensure that only 20 per cent of all shops are allowed to open on any given day," the order added.

"Shopkeepers and customers shall have to wear masks, hand gloves and maintain social distancing," the order further added.

"Responsibility of maintenance of social distancing will be on the shop owner and failure to do so will be viewed very seriously," the order further stated.

"This may entail summary closure of defaulting shops," Krishna stated in the order.

It may be mentioned here that the wholesalers of grocery items are allowed to operate on Sunday (July 5) and Tuesday (July 7) between 3 pm and 6 pm.

"No retail sale will be allowed during this period," the order stated clearly.

The order further stated that activities relating to the supply of essential items to and from FCI will be allowed in Guwahati but on conditions.

"However, FCI will have to ensure that social distancing is maintained while loading and unloading of goods," the order added.

It further stated that the vehicles carrying goods outside the district will have to proceed to the destinations without any stoppage inside Kamrup (Metro) district.

It was also informed in the order that house-to-house sale of fruits and vegetables will be allowed between 8 am and 2 pm on Monday and Wednesday.

Moreover, activities relating to the wholesale distribution of medicines and medical equipment will be allowed between 10 am and 3 pm only on Monday and Wednesday.

"Veterinary clinics, veterinary medicine shops will be allowed to operate on all days between 10 am and 4 pm," the order said.

It further informed that feed shops will be allowed to operate on Monday and Wednesday.

E-commerce distribution activities have been allowed between 11 am and 4 pm on Friday only.

"Post offices and Life Insurance Corporation offices have been allowed to operate with only 10 per cent of total employee strength and only 10 per cent of total branches during the week," the order said.

However, no roadside vending of any fruit, vegetable, fish, etc., will be allowed during this period.