Pune: Strict action was taken against 23 beer bar and wine shop owners in Pune city on charges of flouting social distancing rules while attending customers. The state excise department has sent a list of these violators to the district collector office for taking penal action against them.
The state government has allowed the hotels, beer bars, food malls and restaurants in Pune district to reopen from October 5. While granting this permission, the state government has made it compulsory for these establishments to follow certain norms related to the Covid-19 crisis containment strategy. The guidelines have been declared in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection due to unnecessary crowding of citizens while continuing normal business activities.
The local district administration officials issued guidelines relating to this on October 7. These guidelines mandated the establishments to ensure only 50 per cent customer seating inside the premises, following social distancing, wearing of masks, using sanitisers, hygienic housekeeping practices and temperature screening of all by using thermal guns.
However, when the state excise department officials checked whether the establishments were following these norms or not, they found that several guidelines were being flouted. Dominantly, the social distancing norms were being flouted by all establishment managements. Hence, the state excise department took action against 23 beer bar and wine shop owners on charges of violating guidelines issued by government under the epidemic diseases act.
State Excise Department’s Pune District Superintendent Santosh Zagade made clear that the hotel, restaurant and bar owners should follow the COVID-19 guidelines strictly. If they flout these norms, then at the first instance they will be fined up to an amount of Rs 10,000. On the second and third instance the fine amount will be Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively. Thereafter, if they are found violating the rules, then their license will be suspended.
