Surge in Covid cases hits business hard in Kangra

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 10

Rising coronavirus cases in last fortnight have once again hit economic activity in Kangra district. Most of the private enterprises in the region have been hit badly once again due to restrictions being put in place in the wake of increasing Covid cases.

Dhaba and restaurant owners said that their business had started to look up after about six months and people had started to come out of their houses to dine out after the lockdown was eased. Now, due to the increasing Covid cases, their business has come to a virtual halt.

Rakesh Kumar, a restaurant owner, said that he had called his staff back after six months. “However, now once again I will have to close down and send employees home in case the situation does not improve,” he said.

Dhabas, taxi owners, malls also affected

• Roadside dhaba and taxi owners have been hit badly.
• There are about 5,000 taxi operators in Kangra and most of them are dependent on tourists. Rising Covid cases and suspended bus service from Delhi due to the farmers’ agitation have adversely affected tourism in the region.
• Malls and big retail stores in Kangra have also reported a drastic fall in sales.
• The Vyopar Mandal of Mcleodganj has demanded that the area under the containment zone be reduced and only houses where Covid cases have been reported be sealed.

The Vyopar Mandal of Mcleodganj, in a statement issued here today, demanded that the area under the containment zone should be reduced. Narinder Pathania, president of Vyopar Mandal, said that only those houses where Covid cases had been reported should be sealed and not the entire bazaar. The shopkeepers of the area are already on the edge due to the lockdown and a lack of business.

Most of the shopkeepers in McLeodganj are operating from shops taken on rent. While they are paying hefty rents there was hardly any business in the area, Pathania said.

Roadside dhaba and taxi owners are the other sections of private and self employed categories that have been hit badly. There are about 5,000 taxi operators in Kangra and most of them are dependent on tourists coming to the region. Rising Covid cases and suspended bus service from Delhi due to the farmers’ agitation have adversely affected tourism in the region.

Malls and big retail stores in Kangra have also reported a drastic fall in sales. Many owners of buildings are alleging that big retail store owners are not paying their rents on the plea of increasing Covid cases.

The affected owners of private enterprises are demanding compensation from the state government.

The government has announced a financial package for the hotel industry. Under it, cooperative banks are to provide subsidized loans to hoteliers. However, small hoteliers allege that they are being able to get the subsidized loans as many nationalized banks are not offering it to them.

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