NMC permits more shops to open in city

Nagpur: State government has extended the lockdown in Maharashtra till midnight of May 31. An order signed by chief secretary Ajoy Mehta stated calibrated phase wise relaxation (lifting of lockdown) orders will be notified in due course.
Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has meanwhile permitted more shops and offices to function from Monday. These include shops repairing home appliances, mobile phones and computers. Also sub-registrar and regional transport offices can function with limited personnel.
As per the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC’s) new notification shops of electrical items including air coolers, repairing shops of computer, mobile and home appliances, hardware and building materials will remain open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Auto spares, auto repair workshops, flat tyre repair shops, oil and lubricants, opticals, stationery and hosiery shops will remain open on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
However, only standalone shops and those in residential areas will be allowed to open and that too if there are only five shops selling non-essential items (excluding essential item shops) on the road.
This means that main market areas like Sitabuldi, Dharampeth, Sadar, Gandhibagh, etc will continue to remain closed.
Sub-registrar offices can function with maximum five persons and RTOs can function with maximum 10% clerical staff.
District collector Ravindra Thakare has also issued an order extending the lockdown in rural areas except those coming under Nagpur police commissionerate. The conditions mentioned in his order dated May 3 will continue to remain in force.
Reacting to state government’s decision to extend the lockdown, leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis said lockdown was essential but it could not be a policy to fight coronavirus. “Now the government should come out with an exit policy. The economy is equally important,” he told TOI.
Pramod Pande, president of social organization Jan Manch, said that relaxation should be given in all areas except in containment zones. “Complete freedom should be given in green and orange zones and inter-district travel should be permitted. Lot of relaxations should be given in red zones. People are suffering a lot due to lockdown. Economic activity has to be restarted. In containment zones too, people should not be locked up just because one person is coronavirus positive,” he added.
TS Renu, secretary of Vidarbha Taxpayers Association, said opening of more non-essential goods shops was a welcome step.
“However one important suggestion, 'sports goods' should also be included by allowing them twice a week as many homes are wanting to buy indoor games and small gym equipments for home use. Now it's almost two months since lockdown, family members need some indoor sports for relaxation. In public interest, sports shops may be permitted through an appropriate amendment in the order soon,” he added.