Doing a balancing act, the Maharashtra Government on Tuesday declared Mumbai Metro Metropolitan Region (MMR) and areas falling under nine Municipal Corporations, including that Pune, Solapur, Nashik and Aurangabad, as “Red zones”, while it merged both green and orange zones of rest of Maharashtra into one and termed it as “Non-Red” zone to implement the Lockdown-4 norms.
Announcing the new guidelines for the Lockdown -4 along the lines the indications given by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray earlier, the Maharashtra Government declared the MMR (which among other areas comprises Mumbai, satellite towns like Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar and Ulhasnagar), the municipal Corporations of Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Nashik, Dhule , Jalgaon ,Akola and Amaravati as “Red Zones”.
The State Government declared the Green and Orange Zones falling in remaining part of the state “Non-Red Zone” for the implementation of lockdown-4.
The Chief Minister, it may be recalled, had on Monday night that State Government would enforce the lockdown-4 norms more strictly red zone areas as it would have to tide over the coronavirus crisis in the state before the onset of the monsoon. “We can lift the lock down at any time. But I know what will be consequences of lifting the lockdown at this state. I do not want to push the state into a crisis. I am ready to face any kind of crisis of criticism. I am not going to take the decision of lifting the lockdown in a hurry,” he had said.
As part of the new guidelines released on Tuesday, the State Government authorised the Municipal/district authorities to “demarcate” the containment zones within the Red and Non-Red Zones, “after taking into consideration the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)”.
“Municipal commissioners & district collectors are empowered to decide the containment zones... In containment zones only essential activities shall be allowed. There shall be strict perimeters to ensure there is no movement of people in & out of these zones. except medical emergencies & for maintaining supply of essential goods,” the State Government guidelines stated. In “Red Zones”, the state government among other things, allowed: all essential shops permitted earlier, non -essential shops as per relaxation and guidelines issued earlier and operation of liquor shops if permitted, home delivery or other wise,
“The shops/ malls/ establishments /industries which are not allowed to open in the red zones, will be permitted to remain open from 9am to 5pm. only for the purpose of upkeep & maintenance of material/machinery/furniture etc. and for pre-monsoon protection activities of property and goods. However no other activity (commercial/ production) will be permitted,” the new guidelines stated.
The Government permitted e-commerce activity for essential as well as non-essential items & material and all industries, work at all construction sites ( Public/ private), all such pre-monsoon works (Public/private).
However, the state government continued to ban Taxi/Cab/ Aggregator and autorickshaw, while it permitted plying of four wheelers ( 1+2) and two wheelers ( only one rider) for essential works and home delivery of food from restaurants/ Kitchen
All emergency staff, including health & medical treasury , Disaster Management, police Food & Civil supply, Municipal services can operate at the level as per the need.
In Non-Red Zones, all activities excepting those which have been explicitly prohibited or banned have been allowed. No permission is needed from any govt , authority to undertake or perform permitted activity.
Sports Complex , Stadia & other public open spaces will be permitted to remain open for individual exercise. However, spectators and group activity will not be allowed. All physical exercise & other activities will be done with social distancing norms,” the guidelines relating to the Non-Red Zones stated.
All public & private transports will undertake passenger management (Two wheeler-1 rider, three wheeler 1+2 and four wheeler 1+2)
In the Non-Red Zones, intra-district bus services will be allowed within maximum 50% capacity per bus with physical distancing & sanitation measures. Regarding inter-district bus service orders will be issued separately..All Markets / shops will remain open from 9am to 5pm. If any crowding failure of social distancing norms isseen the authorities will immediately close such markets/shops,” the guidelines added.