Maharashtra govt likely to extend lockdown in Mumbai, Pune red zones till May 31

MUMBAI: The lockdown in Maharashtra will most likely be extended till May 31. It will be strictly implemented in the red zones, especially in Mumbai, Pune, Malegaon and Pimpri-Chinchwad, which have contributed the maximum number of Covid-19 cases so far. A formal announcement on the extension or Lockdown 4.0 would be made later this week.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday held a meeting with some of his cabinet colleagues to formalise the plan to be implemented after May 17, when Lockdown 3.0 ends. The plan is to be forwarded to PM Modi by Friday.
Thackeray, sources said, is clear that the lockdown must be strictly implemented in the red zones and it must be made stricter if required. He has already indicated that he wants all of Maharashtra to be a green zone by May 31.
Those who participated in the meeting were deputy CM Ajit Pawar, revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat, public works minister Ashok Chavan, urban development minister Eknath Shinde and industries minister Subhash Desai. Senior bureaucrats included chief secretary Ajoy Mehta and finance secretary Manoj Saunik.
Sources said all the ministers were keen offices and industries be allowed to resume operations to some extent outside the containment zones.