Tag: Maharashtra curfew

  • Maharashtra govt issues lockdown order; inter-city and inter-district travel banned except for emergency

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra government issued the order of complete lockdown starting from April 22 to May 1, 2021 across the state, banning inter-district and inter-city travel except for emergency and non-avoidable reasons.

    Maharashtra state chief secretary Sitaram Kunte issued the lockdown order on Wednesday later evening. As per the order, the lockdown will come in effect from April 22, 8.00 PM to May 1, 7.00 AM across the state.

    According to the order, all government offices, state and central, will operate with 15 per cent attendance except for emergency services and directly connected to the management of Covid 19 pandemic. The head of the department of each department will decide the attendance of the respective office staffers.

    More than 25 people cannot attend marriage ceremonies. The ceremony should be held in one place and it should be conducted for a maximum of two hours. If there is a violation of this norm, the Rs 50,000 fine will be charged. Inter-district and inter-city travelling is banned except for emergency and non-avoidable reasons like attending funeral and severe sickness. In that case, only 50 per cent of people of the capacity of the vehicle are allowed to travel. If anyone flouts the norms, then Rs 10,000 fine will be charged.

    The private buses can ply with 50 per cent capacity, no standing passengers will be allowed to travel in the bus. The bus will be allowed to stop at only two places between their travel distances. The alighting passengers at stoppage will be stamped with 14 days quarantine period. Thermal screening will be done and suspected patients will be sent directly to Covid 19 centre for treatment. The public transport will operate but only government staff and people working in medical and essential services will be allowed to use them.

  • Give relief, ramp up health infra: Fadnavis on Maharashtra curfew

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Hours after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a 15-day long statewide curfew from April 14 amid the spike in coronavirus cases, senior BJP leader said the MVA government must give concessions in electricity bills, property tax and GST.

    Refraining from calling the curbs as lockdown, the CM, in his address via social media, had said the curfew, which excludes essential services, will come into effect from 8 pm on Wednesday.

    He had added that section 144 (prohibitory orders) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be in force till the “lockdown-like” restrictions are in place.

    In a series of tweets, Fadnavis said, “The state seems to have not offered any concessions in electricity bills, property tax or GST. Similarly, no financial assistance announced for salon operators, small businessman, flower vendors among others. These comprise of a major labour force who will have no means of earnings.”

    “The state should immediate use the reserved fund of Rs 3,300 crore for restricting COVID-19 spread. It should be utilised for adding more beds and procurement of medical equipment. The state should issue directives accordingly,” he further said.

    The leader of opposition in the Assembly said the government’s priority should be to improve health services, increase availability of ventilators, remdesivir injections, oxygen supply, oxygenated beds etc in order to minimise the suffering of patients.

  • COVID-19: BJP supports Thackeray govt’s decision to impose weekend lockdown in Maharashtra

    By ANI
    NAGPUR: After the Maharashtra government announced the decision to impose a complete lockdown on weekends, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that his party supports the decision and appealed to the people to follow the restrictions.

    “BJP supports government decision to impose lockdown. People should abide by restrictions and follow COVID-19 protocols. To ensure maximum vaccination, BJP workers would help people register and reach vaccination centers,” the former Chief Minister said in Nagpur.

    READ HERE | Maharashtra curfew: What services will remain open and what will be closed?

    The BJP leader also urged the government to provide financial aid to the poor and the middle-class people following the restrictions.

    Maharashtra will enter strict weekend lockdown from Friday 8 pm to Monday 7 am, said state Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik adding that essential services and transportation including buses, trains, and taxis will be allowed. The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting today in view of surging COVID-19 cases, he told reporters here.

    “A cabinet meeting took place today and some important decisions were taken related to COVID-19. Strict rules have been made and they will be enforced from 8 pm tomorrow. The night curfew will be in force from 8 pm to 7 am. during day time, section 144 will be in force from tomorrow prohibiting more than five people to gather at one place. A decision has been taken to shut down malls, restaurants, bars. Take away services will continue. Essential services will be allowed. Government offices will open with 50 per cent capacity. Industries will continue. There is no restriction on construction work, markets,” he said.

    “A decision has also been taken to impose strict lockdown from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday in Maharashtra. The decision has been taken after consultations,” he added.

    READ HERE | Maharashtra sees highest 57,074 COVID-19 cases in day; 222 die

    Maharashtra reported 49,447 new COVID cases and 277 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department on Sunday.

    As many as 37,821 people have recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 24,95,315.

    The active number of COVID cases in the state stands at 4,01,172. With the new deaths in the last 24 hours, the COVID death toll has mounted to 55,656 in Maharashtra. 

  • Maharashtra curfew: What services will remain open and what will be closed?

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: In view of exploding COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray called an urgent cabinet meeting on Sunday where it was decided to impose stringent measures like shutting private offices, hotels, markets and other places where people are likely to gather. However, commercial establishments and industries will be allowed to operate during the period.

    Uddhav Thackeray was in favour of imposing another lockdown, but his cabinet colleague opposed saying that a second lockdown will cripple the state’s economy further. Therefore, rather than a complete lockdown, the focus was given on night curfew and implementation of Section 144 to stop people from forming crowds. People will not be allowed to go out without any proper reason or work.

    READ HERE | Maharashtra sees highest 57,074 COVID-19 cases in day; 222 die

    In the cabinet meeting, it was decided that the measures taken will come into effect from April 5, Monday to April 30.  “We want to contain the spread of the virus while at the same time, these measures taken by the government should not impact the economy and livelihood of the people. It was the unanimous decision by all three ruling parties Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP. Besides, the Opposition BJP and MNS leader Raj Thackeray were also consulted before making this announcement,” said NCP minister Nawab Malik.

    The agriculture activities will continue as it is while restrictions will be imposed on the number of passengers allowed in both public and private transport. Only one passenger will be allowed to travel in an auto. Besides, the commercial activities like the banks, share market, insurance etc will remain open during this period.

    READ HERE | COVID-19 second wave: Maharashtra, Punjab reporting highest daily cases and deaths, say data

    The public places like gardens, beaches etc will remain closed from 8.00 pm to 7.00 am. “If it is noticed that people are crowding in these public places and rules are not followed, the concerned local authorities can shut down them,” stated in the order.

    What will remain open

    Essential services and utilities like hospitals, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, local disaster management, electricity and water supply offices, financial institutions like banks, insurance companies will remain functional. 
    RTPCR test of workers mandatory are mandatory 
    Government offices will work with 50 per cent staffers 
    Beaches and garden will open during day time 
    Buses will operate, printing and distribution of newspapers allowed to resume
    What will be shut

    Hotels, restaurants, malls, bars closed. Only take away and parcel service will be available. 
    Private offices, saloons, spas, cinema theatres, entertainment and recreation areas will be closed. Cinemas, multiplexes, theatres, video parlours, clubs, swimming pools, sports complexes, auditoriums, water parks will be completely closed. 
    Places of worship closed to visitors 
    Ecommerce service will continue