Decision on reopening restaurants in Maha after fixing SOPs:CM

A decision on reopening hotels and restaurants in Maharashtra will be taken soon after finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday.

Interacting with various associations of hotels and lodges, CM said hotel industry played a crucial role in tourism sector.

dressing ar meeting, CM has appealed to companies t to retrench ir workers even if re is a w cut.

"SoPs for reopening hotels and restaurantsare being finalised. Once that is done, a decision on reopening hotels and restaurants will be taken soon," chief minister said in an online meeting.

In a bid to reopen industries in a staggered manner in state, Thackeray government h last month launched 'Mission Begin Again' or Unlock 1.

Urging hotel industry t to retrench workersas 'Mission Begin Again' is underway, CM said reopening would be done carefully with emphasis on health and safety.

"(Factors like) SoPs, regulation and self regulation, work force strength, health safety measures etc. are very much important," Thackeray said.

COVID-19 case count in Maharashtra stood at 2,00,064 as on July 4 with 8,671 deaths so far.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Aitya Thackeray has hailed role of hotel industry in fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

" (hotel) industry has played an important role since day one (of COVID-19 outbreak) by housing frontline warriors in hotels and lodges," Aitya said while dressing virtual meeting, after CM.

During virtual interaction with CM, hoteliers suggested that water and electricity be provided at rate which is applicable to or industries.

Representatives of hotel industry underlined need to restart ir establishments stating that state government is losing revenue due to extended shutdown.

hotel and restaurant industry is losing over Rs 6 crore per day due to lockdown, y said.

"If social distancing rms (for patrons) andoverall hygiene protocol is maintained, n re is problem (in reopening hotels)," y said.

dressing a meeting of office-bearers of Bhartiya Kamgar Sena, labour wing of ruling Shiv Sena, chief minister said employers should t retrench ir workers even if re is a w cut.

He assured to speak with manment of companies which are laying off workers.