The Maharashtra government has withdrawn the relaxations to the national lockdown in the Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions.
The relaxations, however, will remain operative in other parts of the state, according to an amendment order issued by Ajoy Mehta, chief secretary to the state government.
The relaxations have been made due to the large number of people commuting because of the relaxations issued to the lockdown guidelines on April 17 and and imminent threat of further spread of the pandemic, the order read. “The position prevailing prior to the issuance of April 17, 2020, order shall be reinstated.”
Vehicles used by e-commerce companies will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions, and can only deliver essential commodities, food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipments.
Print media is exempted from the lockdown from April 20, it said. “Wherever door delivery is done, it shall be with the knowledge of the receiver and the newspaper delivery personnel shall wear masks and use hand sanitiser and maintain social distancing.”
However, given the extent of the spread of Covid-19, door-to-door delivery of newspapers and magazines is prohibited in Mumbai and Pune and in all containment zones as may be decided by the district magistrates, the order read. In these areas they may be sold through establishments that are exempted under the order dated April 17.
The government clarified later in a statement what would now remain shut in the Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions:
- Relaxations given to e-commerce companies with regards to transportation of electronic items has been cancelled.
- Shops selling “farsan”, sweets and confectionaries will remain closed as per the earlier orders.
- No construction activities in Mumbai and Pune.
- IT companies to ask their employees to work from home.
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