Media Release

Mangaluru, Jun 2: Dakshina Kannada Automobile & Tyre Dealers Association has submitted an appeal to the district in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary urging the state government to relax the lockdown restrictions for the automobile sector (trading and service), commercial establishments and all industrial activities. The appeal was submitted by a delegation comprising the Association president, Kasturi Prabhakar Pai, secretary, K Vilas Kumar, treasurer, Maroor Shashidhar Pai, secretary of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, Ganapathy Pai, Sudhir Pai and Prasadraj Kanchan when they called on him at the zilla panchayat office in Mangaluru on Tuesday, June 1.

The appeal addressed to chief minister B S Yediyurappa stated that the automobile trading and services sector comprises numerous small vendors, independent workshops, distributors and dealerships. The industry which provides employment to thousands of people has been undergoing severe financial distress due to the closure of business for the last 40 days of the lockdown and the business owners are unable to meet financial obligations. Furthermore, the functioning of the auto sector is vital for the running of essential services like cargo transport, ambulance, transport of doctors and frontline workers etc. Vehicles used for these activities require spare parts and periodical service for maintenance and safety.

Hence, the Dakshina Kannada Automobile & Tyre Dealers Association appealed to the state government and the district administration to relax the lockdown restrictions and allow the auto establishments and workshops to function as per Covid guidelines like 50% workforce, lesser working hours and weekend curfew.

District in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary accepted the appeal submitted by the Association and assured to give due consideration to the proposal.