UP government flip-flops on shops and shopping malls closure after 7 PM

LUCKNOW: After first declaring closure of all commercial establishments including shopping malls after 7 PM in view of the severe power shortage the Uttar Pradesh government backtracked on the decision within 24 hours.

The Labour department of the state government had on Sunday issued an order for closure of all commercial establishments except medical shops after 7 PM. The order said that commercial establishments would open only after 11 AM and close by 7 PM to save power. The order had given some relief to restaurants which were mandated to close by 10 PM.

After a major hue and cry by opposition parties and business community, the government was on back foot and tried to wriggle out of the situation by conceding some changes.

On Monday the issue was raised in the assembly session, and the parliamentary affairs minister Azam Khan said that the government has issued an advisory and not an order.

Congress Legislator Party leader Pradeep Mathur said that the government had issued an impractical order and after being caught on a sticky wicket was trying to evade the issue of power shortage. He said that the order for shops closure would inconvenience the common man as well as the business community.

The Congress and BJP legislators staged a walk out over the issue and criticised the government for issuing such orders and then trying to confuse the issue.

PWD minister Shivpal Yadav later told the media that shops and malls could open beyond 7 PM but the state government would not be able to supply power to them.

Later the Labour department too issued a press release stating that the order issued on Sunday has been withdrawn.