Traders want restrictions eased

Mysuru: A federation of over 50 major organisations and associations of Mysuru (FOAM), which represents almost the whole business fraternity of the city, has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to lift weekend curfew and permit businesses to operate with adherence Covid safety protocols.

Mysuru hotel owners’ association head Mr Narayangowda told News Trail, “The hospitality industry in Mysuru alone has already suffered at least Rs 2,000 crore loss in the past two years during the past two waves. Mysuru being a major tourist destination, it is during weekends when the businesses function at its peak, but it is now affected badly due to weekend curfew. We hope the Chief minister will lift the weekend curfew in the meeting on Friday,” he said.

Mysuru travels association head C.A. Jayakumar said they have incurred an annual loss of Rs 200 crore in the last two years. People are taking precautions and stepping out of their houses only when it is most needed. So the government need not impose tough rules on them. This will only worsen the economy of the city, he said. In its memorandum, FOAM has stated that though the Covid cases are increasing, due to vaccination drives, the intensity is very less compared to the first and second wave, and not many people are hospitalized. So, they must lift the weekend curfew in order to protect the livelihood of the daily earning class.