A day after the Central Government issued ‘Unlock 4’ guidelines taking away state’s powers to impose lockdowns ‘on their own’ outside containment zones, the Punjab Government has decided to write to the Centre to continue with the ‘night curfew’, and weekend lockdowns. For the same, the Government has decided to write to the Centre to seek its permission for the same.

Notably, the latest guidelines, issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), said that from September 1, states and UTs won’t be able to impose any local lockdowns at the state, district, sub-division or city level, or on weekends outside the containment zones without prior consultation with the Centre.

According to it, the States or UTs will have to take permission from the Centre now before imposing any lockdowns of their own.

However, considering the high rate of coronavirus cases reported from the State every day, coupled with mounting number of deaths, the state government is of the view that it should continue with the lockdowns to check the further spread.

A meeting to decide on the curfew and lockdowns in the state would be held on Monday, after which the state government would issue the new guidelines for ‘Unlock 4’ in the state.

“We would be writing to the Centre to seek its permission as the Government is of the view that night curfew and weekend lockdowns should continue especially when the state is reporting about 1500 cases and 50 deaths every day,” a senior government official told The Pioneer.

Notably, Haryana and Chandigarh have lifted the weekend lockdowns, but the Punjab Government wanted to continue with the lockdown in its urban areas on Saturdays and Sundays.