Maharashtra grocery shops to run between 7am to 11am amidst lockdown

A week after it imposed stringent restrictions in the state, the Maharashtra government will now further restrict timings of grocery shops to just four hours a day, from 7am to 11am.
However, a formal notification in this regard is yet to be issued and is expected in a day or two. Relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar also told mediapersons that CM Uddhav Thackeray will take a final call on complete lockdown in the next two days as current restrictions don’t seem to be serving their purpose and the desired effect in terms of reduction in cases is not being achieved.
As the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra registers an alarming spike the government has been issuing a slew of measures to curb the infection. To this effect State Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed that grocery shops will now function only for four hours between 7 am to 11 am every day.
Officials from the relief and rehabilitation department said they expect restrictions on grocery shops to come into force from April 21 (Wednesday). “If the proposal is approved on Tuesday, it will come into force from Wednesday,” a senior bureaucrat said.
The meeting also discussed the execution of the government’s package of Rs 5,400 crores to help individuals who will be directly affected by the restrictions and closure of business. Ajit Pawar said the help must reach targeted beneficiaries as soon as possible.

Report by Chetali S M
Reported on – 20/04/2021