Delhi L-G rejects AAP govt’s decision to reopen city hotels
■ Covid situtaion remains fragile, says Baijal
New Delhi, July 31: Delhi lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Friday rejected the AAP government’s decision to allow hotels and weekly markets under Unlock 3, officials said.
As the Covid-19 situation continues to be “fragile” and the threat is still “far from over”, the lieutenant governor has taken this decision, they said.
Reacting to the L-G’s move, the Aam Aadmi Party said the Centre must stop interfering in decisions of the Delhi government and stop undermining its authority.
Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on Friday overruled the AAP government’s decision to open hotels and allow for weekly bazaars on a trial basis under Unlock 3.
Unlock 3 is the third phase of the gradual lifting of curbs announced to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease. The lieutenant governor is understood to have taken this decision as the Covid situation continues to be “fragile” and the threat is still “far from over”.
Last month, Mr Baijal, in his capacity as the chairperson of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), had also overturned the Delhi government’s decisions to limit the scope of testing and reserve hospital beds in state government-run and private facilities only for bonafide residents of the city. On Thursday, the Delhi government decided to allow hotels, hospitality services, street hawkers to operate and do away with the night curfew hours applicable between 10 pm and 5 am under the Centre’s Unlock 3 plan.
On Wednesday, the Union home ministry had released guidelines for Unlock 3.0 under which gyms and Yoga centres have been allowed to operate from August 5 under an SOP formulated by the health ministry. Even though the Centre has allowed gymnasiums and yoga centres to operate, the Delhi government is yet to take a call on it.
The government intended to allow weekly bazaars to operate for a week on a trial basis to check if social distancing norms are adhered to. An official order regarding the same was to come by Saturday.
“These decisions are in continuation of several important decisions are taken by CM Arvind Kejriwal in the past few days to ensure Delhi’s economy, which was impacted severely by the lockdown, gets back on track,” said a statement issued by the office of chief minister on Thursday.