Cases up, 9 pm-5 am curfew across Haryana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 12

The Haryana Government today imposed night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am in view of the rising Covid numbers in the state.

Weddings to be hit

The marriage season is going to start on Tuesday and we have already taken bookings. We want the government to relax the timing. — Col Manbeer Choudhary, Hotelier

In an order issued today, ACS Revenue and Disaster Management Sanjeev Kaushal pointed out that this was imperative “as a lot of non-essential movement of people and vehicles during night has been reported”.

However, those with curfew passes and those tasked with law and order or emergency duties, including executive magistrates, police personnel, military, health, power, fire and media persons with accreditation, are exempted.

There will be no curbs on inter-state and intra-state movement of essential and non-essential goods.

Also, vehicles or persons in bonafide transit will be allowed to pass, but only after verification of the point of origin and destination.

The decision of the state government to impose night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am due to the surge in the Covid-19 cases has not gone down well with hoteliers. They have asked the government to impose the curfew from midnight to 5 am.

“The marriage season is going to start from Tuesday due to Navratras and we have already taken bookings for the marriages and have also given advance for the services in the marriages. We want the government to relax the timing at least for three hours so that the marriages could be held easily,” said Col Manbeer Choudhary (retd), president, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Haryana (HRAH).

He said they had already sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister in this regard, requesting them not to take harsh decision as these nine days (Navratras) are very crucial for the hotel industry as most of the celebrations are held at night.

“The economic growth trajectory of the MSME in Haryana is trying to get back on its feet, especially the hospitality industry. With the onset of Navratras, the hotel sector is looking up to some business in the coming days. We request the government to relax the timing,” he added.