Only state govt's rules on timings to apply during lockdown in Maharashtra

Clara Lewis | TNN | May 5, 2020, 21:26 IST

A Covid-19 testing centre at Shivaji park, Mumbai(TOI photo)

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday was forced to issue a clarification that only its rules on timings during the lockdown will apply across the state.
Municipal commissioners and district collectors can formulate rules on timings and which shops to be allowed to open only for containment zones. Bhushan Gagarani, principal secretary, incharge of the state’s Disaster Management Control said local authorities everywhere have been issuing orders on timings and which shops would stay open causing confusion and crowding.
The clarification states,”All shops/markets allowed to remain open as per the May 2nd and 3rd order in their full operational timing (7 am to 7 pm). No restrictions shall be imposed on timings except if there is a need for regulating. And only the municipal commissioners in MMR, PMR, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nashik can do so. In other areas the district collector’s have been given the authority.”
The government clarification said guidelines have already been issued for demarcating Containment Zones by the municipal commissioner and district collector. Once it is marked it cannot be changed by any other authority.
Ever since the lockdown was announced, various local authorities from municipal commissioner, district collector, assistant municipal commissioners, local police have all been issuing different orders for different localities.