Coronavirus Pune: City awaits State, PMC directives

Coronavirus Pune: City awaits State, PMC directives

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has hinted at reopening of the government and private establishments and other businesses in the non-containment areas. However, it is waiting for the state government directives to issue further orders about restrictions and relaxations. This has left Puneites baffled.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Pune Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad had said that they would allow the government, private offices and other businesses to reopen in the non-containment areas.

PMC had allowed reopening non-essential commodity shops and services in the non-containment areas between 7 am and 7 pm during lockdown 3.0. However, most of the shopkeepers were operating between 10 am and 2 pm. They were planning to increase their working hours after May 17. They also await instructions by the State and PMC.

When contacted, Gaikwad said, "We are waiting for directives from the state government. Only then, we will decide on allowing establishments and other businesses to reopen.”

He said, "We will decide which shops will reopen during the lockdown after final orders by the state government. We are ready to grant more relaxations but it depends on the state government directives."

Surekha Patil, a government employee, said, "Right now, only ten per cent staff is on duty. We are waiting for instructions about whether it would increase or not. My office is in the containment area of Mangalwar Peth. Yet, it remains open. Will it be completely shut or remain open?"

IT professional Alok Adsul asked, "I don't know whether our office is going to restart or how many people will be allowed on the premises? We are waiting for orders from the state government and the PMC. If one lives in a containment area and their office is in a non-containment area, will they be allowed to join the office?"

On the other side, the central government has left it to the states to decide on relaxations in the inter-state movement of vehicles based on the Red, Orange and Green zones while extending the nationwide lockdown till May 31. Now, it is interesting to see what the state government decides.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has decided not to allow entry of people from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu into his state till May 31. All shops will be allowed to reopen. All trains running within the state will be allowed and state transport corporation buses and private buses will run. Sundays will be total lockdown across Karnataka.

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