Mohali residents to get essential commodities on the doorstep

Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 25

To ensure supply of essential items, including food, milk and medicines, door-to-door and neighborhood delivery through hawkers and street vendors was started in Mohali district today. But there were reports that in some areas, the service was not started and some of the phone numbers of vendors given by the authorities were not functional.

Steps taken by the authorities

Milk: There is about 65,000 litres of milk supplied in the city, but only about 45,000 litres could be delivered today as some distributors refused taking orders at the last moment, citing fear of payments, banks (especially cooperative banks) being closed. This issue has been sorted and today order of 70,000 litres of milk has been placed. Smaller dairies and milkmen have also been issued passes to deliver milk in the morning.

Vegetables: Mohali city has been divided into areas and pre-packed packets of essential vegetables (potato, onions, tomato, cauliflower etc.) will be taken on carts in different neighborhoods during the day. They will also take orders for the next day. In other areas also, supply lines have been strengthened.

Groceries: Exhaustive list of neighborhood shops with contact numbers is being published. They have been tied up for home delivery in their local areas.

Departmental stores/ online delivery: Bigger stores such as Reliance, Big Basket, Bhejo.co, More, 24x7, D-Mart, Best-Price and Grofers have been tied up. They will make home deliveries in their local areas from tomorrow.

Chemists: Nodal chemist shops have also been tied up and they shall also deliver at homes.

All these shops shall work with their shutters-down. There shall be no in-shop/ walk-in purchases. Residents are requested to call these numbers and place their orders for home delivery.

It is appealed by the administration that all should only buy the daily required quantities. This will ensure wider household coverage.

Helpline numbers

Finally, if any issue still persists, the residents can call control room on 0172-2219541 / 78885-56264. The district administration also informed that mobile ATMs are also going to start shortly. In order to provide cooked food to homeless,, poor and destitute, a separate dedicated helpline (94637-75070) has been set up. Further, many calls offering donations for this purpose were being received. They may also call this number.