Chalk out plans with industry heads to resume operations: Maharashtra to collectors

PUNE: Chief secretary Sitaram Kunte on Saturday said all collectors have been directed to sit with industry heads and draw up plans to resume work with Covid-appropriate protocols in place amid the threat of a possible third wave so that economic activities could pick up pace.
Kunte said representatives of various industries should discuss the matter with their respective district disaster management authorities (DDMA).
“The basic outline has been drawn by the state, but the local authorities should incorporate protocols, depending on the local situation,” Kunte told TOI.
“Staggered timings for operations or bio-bubbles, which minimize the risk of Covid infection, should be adopted by the industries. This should be the base of the plan. Collectors or DDMAs understand the local conditions better and they should draw up a plan following state-level guidelines,” said Kunte, adding the collectors would have to talk to the respective industry heads to chalk out the final plan.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, in a meeting conducted recently, had directed district collectors to chart out a plan to ensure industries could operate amid a possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
The chief secretary said the existing Covid-induced regulations would be discussed in the next review meeting. “Any further decisions would be taken after the assessment of data related to Covid and consultation with the task force,” he said.
Mohan Gurnani, chairman of the Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT), told TOI they were well aware of the dangers lurking in the current pandemic and that some smaller trades were deeply affected by it. “There is a need to strike a balance between the two. While adequate protection should be taken, economic activities have to start. It is imperative for the state government to give effective working hours to small traders. At present, it is mostly 7am to 4pm. These should be revised, say, from 11am to 5pm or 6pm. For industries, enough steps have been taken.”
Gurnani, also the senior vice-president of Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, said, “The local administration should discuss with traders and the industries and then decide on restrictions for effective implementation of the scheme of things.”