Shops flout P1/P2 norm in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad

PUNE: Shops on both sides of several roads were open on Wednesday in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad in gross violation of the P1/P2 order issued by the civic bodies, triggering concern about the spread of Covid-19 in both the cities.
Residents claimed that shops on Jangli Maharaj Road, Karve Road, Baner Road, Salunke Vihar Road as well as in Pimpri Camp and Pimple Saudagar, among other areas, were being kept open on all days of the week. Barring a few pockets along Laxmi Road and Budhwar Peth, shops have been violating the P1/P2 rule even in Peth areas.

Following the indiscipline in the Pimpri Camp market, Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar announced its closure till Thursday. Santosh Patil, the additional commissioner of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), said, “If citizens and traders do not show some discipline, imposing restrictions such as this remains our only option.”
Joint commissioner of Pune police Ravindra Shisve said the police would contact the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities and seek feedback from zonal officers to decide on a plan for the enforcement of the P1/P2 norms.
Pune municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad, however, said the P1/P2 rule was mainly meant to control the opening of shops and the consequent crowding. “We have no issues if shops on both sides of roads open in non-containment areas,” Gaikwad said.
Fatehchand Ranka, the president of Federation of Trade Associations of Pune (FTAP), said mainly the smaller traders were violating the P1/P2 rules. “Traders have incurred heavy losses during the lockdown and so many are trying to grab the opportunity of sales,” he said.
A small trader said, “The shop is the only source of income for my family. We have incurred heavy losses because of the lockdown and we have no option but keep the shop open.”
The owner of a shop along an arterial road in Pune said, “Many shops are still not functioning, and the road is wide enough. After assessing the situation around this area, we have decided to keep the shops open most days.