FactCheck: Are Paan shops in Hyderabad as per viral notice?

Hyderabad: With the lockdown restrictions being eased, local businesses have been allowed to open their shops during the COVID-19 pandemic from 7 am to 6 pm. A photo notice stating that “Paan shops under green zones are going to be reopen from Thursday May 21” went viral over social media platforms on Wednesday.

Viral notice photo over social media

Believing the notice, most netizens started circulating the notice photo among each other as a good news. But the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Commissioner Lokesh Kumar over the phone clarified that “No notice or circular has been officially issued or representations have not been approved to allow the paan shops to be open in green zones, we are still waiting for the state government clarification/decision.”

The notice photo which went viral has been issued by the Telangana Paan Shops Association and Hyderabad Paan Shops Association in which they stated that the paan shops should be open in green zones . The association President and General Secretary thanked the GHMC for permitting their shops to open by provided taking and ensuring all safety measures. In their notice they have also asked the GHMC Commissioner to direct all the zonal commissioners to allow paan shops operating in the city.

Though the notice have brought a wide smile on tobacco addict people but the corporation has not yet released any official notice to allow the openings of Paan shops.

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