Liquor to elude tipplers as curbs continue in Nagpur

Vaibhav Ganjapure & Proshun Chakraborty | TNN | May 5, 2020, 04:16 IST

Nagpur: Even as the central and state governments have allowed sale of liquor in red zones in lockdown 3.0 despite being a non-essential commodity, the district and civic administrations in Nagpur have decided to continue with the earlier restrictions, barring a few exceptions.
Earlier, collector Ravindra Thakare told TOI they would be granting permission to opening of shops selling non-essential products, including liquor in rural areas, as per the guidelines. Even Pune had granted permission for liquor sale.
While talking to TOI, guardian minister Nitin Raut too endorsed his stating that liquor shops would be allowed to open outside city limits. However, after their review meeting in the evening, Thakare came out with a notification that all kinds of shops and permit rooms selling liquor and related products would remain closed till further orders. Only exceptions will be restaurants inside airport, railway and bus terminals.
Municipal commissioner Tukaram Munde had already made his intentions clear on Sunday by issuing a notification that same curbs of second phase of lockdown would continue till May 17, including liquor outlets. He had taken special permission in this regard from chief minister Uddhav Thackeray during their meeting via video conferencing on Sunday evening, Raut said.
However, his decision came under lot of a flak from tipplers on social media. Five lawyers, including Shreerang Bhandarkar, Kishor Lambat, Kamal Satuja, Prakash Jaiswal and Manoj Sable have even planned to challenge Munde’s notification in Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday, contending that it was issued in breach of Friday’s government orders.
Later in the evening, the civic chief came out with revised guidelines where he allowed standalone hosiery shops and book stalls or those functioning from residential complexes to operate provided that they’re not in containment areas or in NMC’s Gandhibagh, Satranjipura, Ashi Nagar and Mangalwari zones. Even government offices outside these areas are permitted to resume with 10% staff.
The corporation also allowed construction activities in its remaining six zones provided that the builder will arrange lodging and boarding facilities for the labourers. All these activities would be permitted with social distancing norms and compulsory wearing of masks by the citizens along with use of sanitizers.
Expressing possibility that city may witness more number of Covid-19 cases till mid-May, Mundhe clarified that curbs would continue on all private offices, liquor shops, paan kiosks, shopping malls, salons, beauty parlours and other establishments as per the state government’s directives.
Mundhe also discussed the issue with police commissioner Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay and urged him to intensify nakabandi at every entry point to check movement of tipplers. “Nagpur city is already in the red zone and section 144 of CrPC is imposed. We will neither allow citizens to venture out of containment zones nor out of city limits,” he told TOI.
Most Vid districts to continue restrictions
Anticipating trouble, most of the districts in Vidarbha too decided to continue with the same restrictions of lockdown’s second phase till May 17. Those in red zones like Akola, Yavatmal and Buldhana have decided to keep shops selling non-essential items shut, including liquor. Those in orange and green zones like Amravati, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia and others will observe partial lockdown while allowing sale of non-essential items and opening of industries with minimal staff. But sensing trouble, the Amravati and Bhandara collectors decided to continue curbs on liquor shops till further orders.
Amravati collector Shailesh Naval told TOI that no concession will be given to shops other than those selling essential commodities, but relaxation could be offered in coming days if shopkeepers comply with excise department norms.
Yavatmal collector MD Singh said that prohibition on sale of liquor and tobacco products would continue, but agriculture and allied activities will be allowed in the rural areas.
What’s changed
Restaurants inside airport, railway & bus terminals can resume operations
Hosiery shops & book stalls, standalone or in residential complexes to restart
Govt offices permitted to resume with 10% staff
Construction activities can resume in remaining six zones
Builder to arrange lodging & boarding facilities for labourers
All these activities to be permitted with social distancing norms