· CM gives nod to re-open restaurants; Asks restaurateurs to follow ‘My Family, My Responsibility’
Mumbaikar’s have a reason to cheer. Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray in a major decision allowed restaurants and bars in the Maharashtra state. The restaurant and Bar can restart their operations from the first week of October. The decision came after a meeting between industry organisations HRAWI and the CM. The CM has in principle agreed to allow restaurants to re-open.
It may be noted that The HRAWI has been advocating the reopening of restaurants. The HRAWI has welcomed the decision and has thanked the CM for understanding the plight of the restaurant players. The CM advised the Hospitality industry to follow the Maharashtra Government’s ‘My Family, My Responsibility’ campaign to protect its own people as well as its customers’ from COVID19.
Sherry Bhatia, President, HRAWI said “We thank the Hon CM Uddhav Thackeray for allowing reopening of restaurants in the first week of October 2020. The CM has also agreed to favourably consider a petition for the waiver of excise license fees for a period of 6 months, the duration for which establishments were required to be kept shut. Also, the deadline for deferment of payments towards the first instalment of the Excise License fee has been extended to 30th September which will bring restaurateurs big relief”.
the Ballroom at ITC Grand Central is geared up to welcome guests
HRAWI had also petitioned the State Excise department for a rollback in the 15 per cent increase in the fees for the year. Other than this, the Association had been demanding a complete fee waiver for the duration of the lockdown on restaurants.
Pradeep Shetty, Sr. Vice President, HRAWI says “In our meeting, the CM was sympathetic towards the restaurant players for not being allowed to operate for so long. He has stressed on restaurants’ responsibility towards their customers’ health and safety after reopening of business. We have informed the CM that HRAWI along with the FSSAI has spearheaded the creation of SOPs for the restaurants. We have assured him that we have taken into consideration all possible aspects of operations in a restaurant and provisioned safety measures. We are glad that the Government has shown trust in us and we will abide to it”.
On the subject of allowing restaurants to operate in limited capacities, the Hon. CM expressed openness to be accommodating. He stressed on the objective of safety and declared that his Government will be flexible in allowing restaurants to take in as many patrons as it can so long as it maintains all SOPs and safety norms.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
