Keypoints:
- Timings for grocery shops will now be restricted to just four hours a day, from 7am to 11 am.
- Formal notice in this regard is yet to be issued. It is expected to be out in a day or two.
- A final call for a complete lockdown in the state will be taken by Uddhav Thackeray in a day or two.
- It is likely that the timings for vegetable markets will be restricted too.
It has been a week since stringent restrictions have already been imposed in the state. Further, Maharashtra government decides to restrict timings of grocery shops to just four hours a day, from 7am to 11am. In this regards, a formal notice is yet to be issued and is expected to be out in a day or two.
Relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar has told the media persons that a final call on imposing a complete lockdown will be taken by CM Uddhav Thackeray in a day or two. The restrictions been imposed for now don’t seem to be serving it’s purpose to curb the virus. The desired effect in terms of reduction in the cases is not being achieved.
Officials from the relief and rehabilitation department have said that they expect restrictions on grocery shops to come into force from April 21 (Wednesday). A senior bureaucrat has said that,“If the proposal is approved on Tuesday, it will come into force from Wednesday.”
On Monday, a review meeting was chaired by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar along with some cabinet ministers and bureaucrats, in which further decision for curbs were taken.
Today, a cabinet meeting will be held in which the situation of Covid will be discussed. Many ministers who are demanding a complete Lockdown will be raising their issues. “The results of restrictions have not been satisfactory as there has been non-cooperation from people. We will have to bring in a new strategy to halt any further surge,” a bureaucrat told TOI. “Law-enforcing agencies will have to act ruthlessly, otherwise the exercise of tackling the pandemic will be meaningless,” he said.
Vijay Wadettiwar has said that, “The curfew has not served any purpose as cases are on the rise. This is not a complete lockdown. Many traders were against complete lockdown, but now traders, shops selling groceries, political parties and common people are demanding complete lockdown. This has been conveyed to CM and he will take a final decision after discussing with all ministers.”
In the meeting chaired by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, he also directed police authorities to look after strict implementation of restrictions, increase checks and penalise violators.
“From the feedback we are getting from police, the most common excuse given by people caught moving unnecessarily is they are going grocery-shopping. We will be issuing orders to restrict timings of grocery shops from 7am to 11am,” said public health minister Rajesh Tope who attended the meeting. “There is a need for strict implementation of restrictions till April 30,” Tope added.
