Kathmandu, September 13
Traders in Kathmandu have begun opening all shops almost every day, effectively defying the prohibitory order issued by District Administration Office.
While relaxing restrictive provisions of the order after three weeks of its implementation, DAOs of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur had jointly issued a schedule allowing certain shops to stay open on certain days only.
However, a few days after the schedule was issued, almost all shops in business hubs of the city are seen open irrespectively of the order.
For example, the DAOs have allowed opening kitchenware shops only on Sundays. However, almost all shops have been opened in the New Road area of Kathmandu this morning.
“It’s closed and closed every day, but how is it possible always? Don’t we need to feed ourselves?” a shopkeeper selling electronic equipment says, “The trade is off, but our goods have also been damaged, causing a huge loss. Who will compensate us?”
Meanwhile, Kathmandu’s Chief District Officer Janak Raj Dahal says he is aware that the order has not been implemented, but says it is now up to the public on adopting measures to save themselves from the coronavirus infection.
“We made the decision and we are monitoring,” he says, “But, it is more important that people need to be aware on their own.”
