The administration here has engaged 110 shops for delivery of groceries at doorsteps to ensure people do not face shortage of essentials amid the ongoing lockdown
An official said 40 departmental stores and private 70 shopshave been engaged for the job. To keep supply of products going, the administrationhas also roped in 64 wholesale dealers.
The plan prepared by District Disaster Management AuthorityDDMA) has taken care of each areas and locality to ensure that every house getsdelivery within shortest possible time once order is made.
“The district has been divided into 25 zones. In each zone,a shop has been designated and authorized for home delivery of groceries,” saidDeputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.
He said all orders are received on phone. “The designatedshops are not allowed to open shutters or allow customers inside, instead thesupplies are delivered at the doorsteps,” he said.
He said authorities were aware about their responsibility toreach out to people amid the COVID19 lockdown.
Choudhary said proper standard operation procedure was beingfollowed strictly to ensure supply of the groceries.
As per the plan, an officer from the administrationsupervises the process of receiving calls for order and the delivery in eachzone.
“This has been done toensure people get products on government fixed rates and there is no violationof SoP,” said the official.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Sajad Qadri,who is nodal officer for the process, said that delivery boys were not allowedto enter homes.
He said the Disaster Management Authority was taking allmeasures to contain spread of the infection.
“At the same time, we are putting maximum efforts tominimize the inconvenience to public whose role has been appreciable forextending cooperation in adhering to all health advisories,” he said.
Meanwhile, Choudhary reviewed preparedness for furtherexpanding the network of distribution of essential and emphasized activecoordination with local public representatives and business community.
The official said the administration has finalised measuresto augment the existing network of delivery of groceries, food items andvegetables with special emphasis and focus on mandatory home-delivery.
Choudhary said that in coordination with local businessrepresentatives and resident associations, the zonal committees have beenauthorised for operating two to three stores in every zone, on rotational basiswith fixing business days.
He said movement passes and vehicles were allowed forreplenishment of stocks. “Mobility days have been fixed on rotation in order tominimize footprint in markets. A nodal agency with officials and non-officialsdrawn from different departments and stakeholder organizations has beenestablished at Parimpora Mandi to facilitate vegetables and fruit acrossdistricts,” he said.
He said 229 persons dealing with stocks in vegetable mandiwere tested and all reports came negative. Further, he said, 80 load carriershave been deployed for supply of vegetables with special focus on red zones.
He said in order to keep astrict check on quality and pricing inter-sectoral teams and squads comprisedof officials from police, FCS&CA, Legal Metrology and magistrates have beendeputed for inspections and legal action.