Unlock: Some more relaxations from Aug 5
| Date :31-Jul-2020 |
Malls to re-open with riders from August 5. (Pic by Satish Raut)
Staff Reporter :
Confusion over odd/ even plan for malls
Closed for about four-and-a-half months due to novel coronavirus pandemic, malls and market places would re-open under the Mission Begin Again campaign. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has issued necessary directives for unlocking them from August 5 onwards. Malls and market complexes can look forward to brisk business ahead of major festival season later from the month-end onwards. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the trade and now Government is giving a bit-by-bit push to restore normalcy.
In the notification, NMC said, though malls are allowed to re-open, but cinema hall would have to wait to entertain people as time is yet not ripe for large gatherings that too in closed spaces. Also on travel front, major concessions were announced by NMC that would go a long way in providing relief to citizens, as auto-rickshaw are allowed to ply on city roads. A large number of unemployed people had taken to driving auto-rickshaw to make two ends meet as due to lockdown profession of most of them had taken a solid beating.
The notification of Thursday while carrying forward all the recommendations of Central Government and State Government has, however, avoided specific mention about re-opening of gymnasiums and yoga institutes. The circular of NMC did, however, said concessions in lockdown in toto would as per notifications by Centre and State. The kitchen of restaurants and food courts in Malls and market complexes are only allowed to operate but under condition that they would provide home delivery through various aggregators. Eating and serving to customers at restaurant premises is still a no go area owing to concerns of COVID-19 pandemic.
All the other liberties granted since unlock phase like Odd/even opening of commercial establishments in market areas remains as it in. In unlock 3.0 phase, Centre as per its calibrated reopening plan has now give permission to Mall and Market places and gymnasiums and yoga centres. Two-wheeler: One significant change that would enthuse common man is permission to allow two people to ride on the two wheeler. So far only one person was allowed to ride on two wheeler and it had created much discontentment as cops made it a prestige point to enforce the rule.
Since other modes of public transport still off the road, the refusal to allow double seat on two wheeler riled the citizens and social media was agog with jokes about the same. This seems to have significant impact on the mindset of rulers and administrators who promptly recalibrated the norm. Both the riders would have to wear helmets as well as mask. Auto-rickshaw: Even much awaited green signal to plying of autorickshaw has been ayed by NMC in its latest notification.
A sizable number of rickshaw pullers were at their wits over continued clamp down even as Taxis were permitted to carry on with their business. Now auto can ply with limitation that they can ferry only two persons at a time plus the driver. The citizens also faced difficulty in commuting from one point to other owing to absence of autorickshaw on the roads. A large number of auto drivers had taken to selling vegetables to carry on with the life that has hit a rough patch due to lockdown of three months that stretch to another month.
Four-wheeler: In another concession on transport sector, NMC said now three persons besides the driver can travel at a time. Earlier the number of co-passenger was restricted to two only. But realising the need of time since Indian families are bigger in numbers, the NMC decided to further liberalise the rules of clamp down. However, in each of the transport medium, Taxi/Cab, autorickshaw and four wheeler it is intended that they would be used only for essential nature of work and not meant to roam around in city. NMC also said that other activities that still are in restricted list would be gradually permitted in phases manner after framing of Standard Operating Procedures (SoP).
Confusion over odd/even plan for malls Civic officials face an uphill task while enforcing odd/even rule in malls and market places. Given the nature of construction of building housing malls/market complex, the officials have not yet formulated any strategy on enforcing alternate day rule in closed environment. Commenting on the issue, Ram Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner, said, it will all depend upon how people behave at such places and civic body would monitor closely the activities post-re-opening of malls.
State and Central notification are also silent about specific guidelines about functioning of shops in malls and market places. Joshi added that civic officials would take into account the specifics on how to ensure guidelines of large gathering, and avoiding over crowding in market buildings is to be regulated. He also said, construction of malls and market places are such that the business are inter-linked and they operate on single floor selling multiple wares. “Now we would have to rack our brains and take into account several scenarios, as it is new challenge on enforcement front”, he added further.
Take care, don’t believe in rumours: Mundhe Tukaram Mundhe, Municipal Commissioner, on Thursday appealed to the people to take due care of themselves, stay alert, and not to believe in rumours about lockdown from July 31 or August 3. Mundhe stated in a press release that no such decision about lockdown or curfew from July 31 or August 3 was taken. Under the Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Act, Municipal Commissioner has been empowered to announce lockdown in Nagpur city. “Hence, any message not issued by him should be treated as rumour.
People should not believe such rumours,” he added. The Municipal Commissioner stated that people should follow the norms announced by Maharashtra Government under ‘Mission Begin Again’. “People should continue with their daily activities but follow the norms. Following the guidelines will help in curbing the spread of COVID-19. We are reaching out to people and traders. The two-day ‘Janata Curfew’ evoked good response. Similar discipline needs to be continued,” he said.
The traders, shop-keepers should maintain physical distancing, odd/even rules, keeping hand-sanitisers at their establishments, not allowing more than five customers at a time, following norms about vehicles etc. “Lockdown is not the ultimate option. But, if people do not follow the norms, curfew will have to be imposed. While doing so, people will be informed at least three to four days in advance,” Mundhe stated. He appealed to the people to go for testing if they have symptoms of COVID-19. NMC has started antigen test at its primary healthcare centres, where people can get themselves tested, he added.