Maharashtra / Grocery shops to remain open in Maharashtra only from 7 am to 11 am: Rajesh Tope

MUMBAI:A week after it imposed stringent restrictions in the state, the Maharashtra government will now further restrict timings of grocery shops to just four hours a day, from 7am to 11am. However, a formal notification in this regard is yet to be issued and is expected in a day or two. Relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar also told mediapersons that CM Uddhav Thackeray will take a final call on complete lockdown in the next two days as current restrictions don’t seem to be serving their purpose and the desired effect in terms of reduction in cases is not being achieved.

Officials from the relief and rehabilitation department said they expect restrictions on grocery shops to come into force from April 21 (Wednesday). “If the proposal is approved on Tuesday, it will come into force from Wednesday,” a senior bureaucrat said.

Curfew has been in vain as cases still on the rise: Minister

The state government will further restrict timings of grocery shops to four hours a day, from 7 am to 11 am. The decision on further curbs was taken in a review meeting chaired by deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Monday with some cabinet ministers and bureaucrats. It is likely timings of vegetable markets too may be restricted.

On Monday, Nagpur district guardian minister Nitin Raut announced a reduction in timings for all essential shops in Nagpur, which will now remain open only from 7am to 11am. Only fruit and milk shops there will be allowed to stay open in the evening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

A cabinet meeting will be held on Tuesday in which the Covid situation will be reviewed, and many ministers who are demanding a complete lockdown in the state will also be raising their issues. Restrictions on inter-district movement of people and vehicles are also not ruled out. “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.

Wadettiwar said, “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.”

He further said a six-day lockdown was imposed in Delhi. “I have asked the department secretary to compile information about how they are managing services like Metro and concessions to be given for essentials during lockdown,” he added.

In the meeting chaired by Pawar, he directed police authorities to ensure 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.

To deal with the shortage of oxygen, district collectors have been empowered to give work orders for setting up of oxygen generation plants without waiting for the tendering process; a post-facto clearance from the cabinet can be taken.