Pune mayor disapproves of lockdown relaxations
Mohol said he has spoken to Maharashtra deputy chiefminister Ajit Pawar and asked him to intervene in the matter.
Pawar is also the guardian minister of Pune district.
On Sunday evening, civic commissioner Shekhar Gaikwadissued orders for certain relaxations in lockdown rules innon-containment zones in the city, the second worst-hit bycoronavirus in the state after Mumbai.
Gaikwad on Monday sought to allay concerns related tothe relaxations and said they will be reviewed regularly.
As per the orders, shops selling non-essentialcommodities, including liquor, will be allowed to be opened innon-containment zones between 10 am and 6 pm.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mohol stated,"I register my protest to the decision to allow five shopsincluding essential commodities to remain open on a particularroad or lane between 10 am to 6 pm."
He said when people are following the lockdown andthere is a possibility that the number of COVID-19 cases mightcome under control, this decision will not be "affordable" forthe city.
He stated that since the morning crowding of people oncity roads is worrisome.
"I demand that only essential services that toobetween 10 am and 2 pm be allowed in the whole city. With newtimings (10 am to 6 pm ) how are we going to control crowdsand it will further bring stress on the police department," hetweeted.
Mohol questioned the decision to allow only five shopsin one lane or road to remain open and sought to know thecriterion to select these shops.
"By giving such relaxations in Pune in the currenttimes, we are actually inviting more danger," he said.
He said the administration should pay heed to theseconcerns and rethink over its decision and only allow shopsselling essential commodities to remain open from 10 am to 2pm.
"I have spoken to the guardian minister Ajit Pawar andhe has responded positively and I expect that he willintervene in this issue," Mohol tweeted.
Meanwhile, civic chief Gaikwad, replying to a questionrelated to crowding on roads since Monday morning, said allwill have to adapt to certain changes.
"This (COVID-19) situation will be with us for thenext few months and in that condition, continuous lockdown isnot possible.
"In fact, we will have to adopt certain changes in ourlifestyles such as wearing masks, gloves and following socialdistancing norms all the times," he said.
Gaikwad said the relaxations will be reviewed afterevery four days.
"We will be taking a constant review of therelaxations given in non-containment zones and we will checkthe public response.
"If there is an increase or decrease in COVID-19cases in a particular area, we will do necessary changes inin terms of putting more restrictions or giving morerelaxations," he added.
The number of areas falling under COVID-19 containmentzones in Pune has reduced, he said.
"As per the revised containment zones, out of 330 sqkm area, only 3 per cent of it is currently under containmentzones," he said.
In the remaining 97 per cent area, normalcy willgradually return from Monday onwards in terms of dailybusiness. Construction activities will also be allowed there,he said. SPKRSY RSY