Maharashtra takes baby steps to ease restrictions
The Maharashtra government yesterday announced gradual steps to ease a lockdown enforced to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
But #MissionBeginAgain initiative will not see the resumption of suburban trains or Metro Rail in Mumbai and a night curfew will continue, officials said.
Senior citizens aged above 65, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women and children below 10 will have to remain home and go out only for essential or medical services.
The night curfew will remain in force from 9pm-5am till June 30, and complete lockdown will continue in ‘containment zones’, except for essential services.
Additional activities will be allowed in Pune, Solapur, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati and Nagpur.
Accordingly, from June 3, limited duration outdoor individual physical activities like walking, jogging, cycling in open spaces like society compounds, playgrounds, beaches, are allowed.
Cycling is particularly advised as it automatically ensures physical distancing.
Permitted would be the services of plumbers, electricians, pest-control, garages or vehicle workshops with prior appointment and other technicians with masks and sanitisers.
All government departments - barring those in the emergency services - will be permitted to increase employees from the present 5% to 15% or 15 employees, whichever is higher.
From June 5, all markets and shops except malls and shopping plazas will reopen on one side of the road on odd-even dates with several conditions from 9am5pm only.
People will be allowed travel in taxis , four-wheelers and autorickshaws, but no pillion rider on two-wheelers.
From June 8, all private offices can restart with 10% staff strength with full precautions.
While intra-district bus travel will reopen with 50% passenger capacity, inter-district bus travel remains prohibited.
A blanket ban continues on all educational institutions from school to universities and private institutes, international flights except those allowed by the Centre, Metro Rail, passenger movement by trains and domestic air travel, except as permitted under special orders.
All cinemas, theatres, gyms, swimming pools, amusement parks, auditoriums, bars, all types of public functions, all religious places or congregations, salons, spas, malls, hotels, restaurants, etc will not be allowed under #MissionBeginAgain.
However, the government permitted resumption of shootings for films, TV and advertisements with immediate effect.
The move follows several appeals from the film industry and a delegation of Bollywood bigwigs who called on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray last week.
Those intending to resume shootings will be required to submit their applications to the Maharashtra Films, Theatre and
Cultural Development Corporation at the Dadasaheb Phalke Film City in Goregaon, or at the district collectorates across the state, said an official.
“After scrutinising the applications, the concerned authority will give the go-ahead for the shooting proposals.
They will have to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines issued separately for the purpose,” the official told IANS.
The 16-page guidelines pertain to awareness among all stakeholders, managing coronavirus risks on the sets/studios and editing facilities, casting and artist management, production offices, trailers, tents, crowd control and physical distancing, handling of equipment, operations controls, actors and junior artistes, contestants for non-fiction shows, staffing, location departments, shoot management, art department, wardrobe, on-set communication, camera, video village setup, sound, electric/grip departments, catering, travel to be minimised with at least one month stay wherever possible and quarantine for 14 days after return.