Nagpur: District collector Ravindra Thakare on Friday said a complete lockdown for at least a fortnight was required to put a brake on the rising corona infections in the district as the second wave is turning out more severe than the first one.
Thakare, who admitted it was a struggle for beds, oxygen, Remdesivir injections and creating other health infrastructure to take on the Covid surge, said citizens have a big role to play to curb the spread with Covid appropriate behaviour and co-operating with the administration.
“People must keep their emotions aside and follow the norms and guidelines,” he told TOI. “The agitators may be sounding right by highlighting their grievances (against the restrictions) but this is not the right time. It is improper,” he said adding a proper lockdown of around 15 days would ‘yield good results’ (of keeping Covid spike under check).
“Some among the agitators could be carriers while others can get the infection from them. One never knows from where the infection may come,” he said.
Sitabuldi Merchants’ Association on Friday postponed their action to open shops defying the restrictions laid down by the state government that has barred opening of non-essential shops across the state till April 30. Traders held demonstration against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government for half an hour.
Parag Thakkar, executive member of SMA, said, “Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in a Zoom meeting with traders had promised that he understands the issues and had said he would get back in two days with a relief plan.” All the traders of Maharashtra and Sitabuldi Merchants Association are positive about the outcome, traders told TOI.
The traders were supposed to open the shops in protest today but withdrew since a positive decision was expected by them. “Our request to the authorities is to allow the traders to work full time. If that is not possible, they should fix time for essential services except medical stores and hospitals to operate from 6 am to 2 pm and non-essential businesses should be allowed to operate from 1 pm to 8 pm. This will reduce crowding and all will be able to work and not lose their livelihoods. If the decision is not in our favour, the association will decide on further action and continue with protests, traders suggested.
Even senior corporator Abha Pande suggested that instead of complete lockdown for non-essential shops, the government should rethink on dividing the day into three shifts for both essential and non-essential activities. According to her, morning hours should be allotted for essential commodities and afternoon and evening reserved for trades of non-essential activities. “This way, traders can do business and administration can easily control crowds,” she said.