Amidst confusion and opposition week-long lockdown from today

 

 

 

Amidst confusion over what would remain open and what would remain closed, Nagpur city will witness the second lockdown which is a week-long. Dr Nitin Raut, Guardian Minister has made it clear if cases continue to increase, the lockdown would not only be extended but it will be stricter. Administration is likely to witness opposition from people from all strata to lockdown. Of course people from all strata have opposed this very idea of lockdown as most of them have developed a fear of getting devastated. The people in last two days have defied the curbs that were imposed for weekend days. The localities coming in the ambit of police stations Hingna, Sonegaon, Koradi, Kalamna, Hudkeshwar would also have to follow the norms.

 

As administration separately issued the orders regarding lockdown, it has created confusion among people. At present COVID-19 vaccination is being conducted at 128 centres in Nagpur. The administration has made it clear that the drive would not be affected during lockdown. People accompanying the relatives to be vaccinated will not be prohibited. In fact administration has appealed social organisations, Non-Government Organisations to come forward to help senior citizens to reach vaccination centres.

 

Dr Nitin Raut has appealed everybody not to make hurry as far as vaccination is concerned. He said, “People are making hurry and they are not following social distancing norms in the queue. Everybody would get vaccine as per the time allotted to them. They have to wait patiently.” All the industries will remain open during lockdown but employees of all the establishment should keep identity cards with them. Private offices to remain closed while Government offices to run with 25% attendance. The restrictions of running the offices would be relaxed in case of offices which have to complete the March-end works. Educational institutions too are allowed to operate only for the staff in case of holding online classes or administrative works etc. They have to keep identity cards with them. All the essential services, Post office, Medical stores, Government and private hospitals, shops of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, milk, eggs will run regularly.

 

 

In a move to enforce strict lockdown, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) may end-up choking supply of the essential goods to the city. On Sunday, a fresh notification was issued by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) that instead of making things crystal clear has ended-up creating more confusion. The notification was issued by Nirbhay Jain, Deputy Commissioner, General Administration Department (GAD), to clarify NMC's position about standalone shops that are permitted to carry on with their business. Underlining about confusion among traders about blanket permission for essential category trade during the week-long lockdown from March 15 onwards, Jain mentioned that it is not so. Even if shops are selling vegetables or fruits, meat or eggs that are part of essential category but if are operating from market complex, then they would have to remain closed.

 

The civic notification made it clear said permission is meant only for shops that are single and not part of cluster or a group carrying out same trade in one particular area of the city. This in effect could put question mark on functioning of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Kalamna Market and also Cotton Market from where daily wholesale vegetable markets function. Retailers line-up since early morning in both the markets on daily basis and thereafter the supply reaches every nook and corner of city and even to localities that have sprang-up in outskirts of city. Since NMC is against functioning of weekly vegetable markets on grounds of over crowding and violation of COVID-19 norms, one would have to wait till Monday to ascertain fate of these two markets. One can understand that civic body is keen to avoid crowding which is unavoidable in wholesale markets. But at the same time supply lines to city should not get choked and for that a middle way has to be found, feel the traders who are anxious as city police have also issue warning about strict enforcement of lockdown.

 

Traders are worried that workers and employees may face problem in reaching their establishments in case policemen act too tough. Similarly, NMC's new order about stand alone shops is to be interpreted as per new clarification, then what would be the status of wholesale grocery markets in Maskasath and Itwari area? Will the traders allowed to open their shops or they would remain shut since they also carry out business in a cluster or group which is prohibited. Further if an essential category shop is part of a market complex, can it carry on with business activity is also a big question that needs some clarity.

 

Private Offices: About private offices and establishments, civic notification made it clear that attendance is capped at 10 persons and same should be strictly followed. Also permission is only to those establishments who are engaged with March ending activity like accounts and audit and for payments only. Nirbhay Jain, Deputy Commissioner, NMC, did not respond to calls from The Hitavada and helped clarify the doubts that emerged further in aftermath of revised notification.