PUNE: Divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao on Sunday said that Pune will continue with the prevailing restrictions till April 9 when the next Covid-19 review meeting under deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar will take place.
“The state government has given full authority to the local administration to decide on the restrictions according to the situation. So, we will continue with the timings 6pm to 6am curbs on travel as Pune’s situation is the worst in the state,”he said. On Sunday, Pune registered 12,494 Covid-19 cases.
“Additional orders incorporating more stringent restrictions announced on Sunday by the state government will be issued on Monday,” Rao said in the wake of the government’s `Break the Chain’ order announcing an 8pm to 7am night curfew during the weekdays and a total lockdown on the weekends, from Friday 8pm to 7am Monday, among others.
Rao said, “Pune’s situation is very worrisome compared to the entire state. The existing 6pm-to-6am restrictions will continue till April 9 as was declared on Friday. The government’s order today may have mentioned 8pm to 7am, but Pune’s timings were decided after assessing the local conditions.”
“I have had a detailed discussion with Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioners and Pune district collector. We will issue additional orders on Monday regarding additional stringent measures that are not part of the prevailing orders issued by the two civic chiefs and the collector. For instance, closure of saloons, beauty parlours, gardens and others,’‘ he said.
Rao said the additional orders will also incorporate the weekend lockdown as announced by the government and the remaining restrictions that have been issued for Pune will continue.
While the state has allowed public transport, Rao said they will not be allowing the PMPML services to operate in Pune.
However, he has specified that he has already spoken to the industries, hospitals and companies that they can rent the PMPML buses for their staff for travelling and it would be the responsibility of these establishments to hire these buses and follow the social distancing rules and Covid protocols strictly.
It will be for select emergency services only, he added.
Pune’s municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar said, “Whatever more the state government has ordered will be followed.”
His Pimpri Chinchwad counterpart Rajesh Patil said, “We will not issue any new order based on the cabinet meeting’s decision and will continue with our earlier order issued on Friday.”