Key Points:
- CM Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday that the state was not planning to ban firecrackers.
- He cautioned that “bursting of crackers in public places will not be allowed.”
MUMBAI: In an address ahead of Diwali festivities, CM Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday that the state was not planning to ban firecrackers, but would appeal to the public to show restraint in their use. Many states like Delhi, Karnataka and West Bengal have banned firecrackers this year.
“Imposing a ban is not a solution for everything. Let us show trust in each other and ensure that everything we have achieved so far (in controlling the outbreak) does not go up in smoke,” he said. However, he cautioned that “bursting of crackers in public places will not be allowed.”
Uddhav Thackeray added that Delhi is seeing a spike in cases and experts have attributed it to an increase in pollution.
Speaking about the Covid situation in the run-up to Diwali, Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday that a discussion was held by the state cabinet earlier this week on use of firecrackers, but not many were in favour of imposing a ban.
He said daily cases in the state were on the decline, but a resurgence of infections was likely if Covid-19 norms of using masks, hand hygiene and maintaining social distance was not followed. “We have opened up almost everything. Crowd on the streets is almost back to normal, but many people are not using a mask. This will not be allowed. One Covid-19 patient can infect up to 400 more people if he does not use a mask,” said Thackeray.
Even internationally, many countries are seeing a huge spike in cases, he said, and Maharashtra has to ensure that there is no repeat of the same in the state. “In many countries it is not a second wave, it is a tsunami of cases. We have adequate medical infrastructure, but only have those many doctors and medical staff. If a second wave strikes the state, there could be a crisis situation. We have to avoid that at any cost,” said Thackeray.
He added that he has directed local authorities not to dismantle any Covid care centre for the next few months. They can be closed down, but should be revivable. He said the 15 days after Diwali would be a crucial period to see if cases were rising.
He said the state will reopen school classrooms for students from class IX to XII post-Diwali and a decision to open religious places will also be taken then. He added the state is going slow on opening up of religious places as senior citizens regularly visit them and they are more vulnerable to catching the infection.
”I have been criticised for not reopening religious places, but I want to go slow on it. Because the same people who criticise me will not take responsibility if the cases go up,” said Thackeray, in a reference to the BJP’s protests against the government for not reopening temples.
He also said the state is in talks with the railways about allowing the general public to travel on local trains. “We are co-ordinating with the Centre, a decision will be taken soon,” said Thackeray.
