Pune: After Maharashtra government announced lockdown style curfew last week in the state, Pune administration has continued to enforce weekend lockdown.
Though there was some confusion amongst people for past few days, the PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) recently clarified that weekend lockdown will be continued in the city. A weekend lockdown, aimed at restricting the further spread of novel coronavirus, started in Pune district on April 10. The weekend lockdown in Pune will continue till 7 am on Monday. Home delivery of food through online portals has been allowed during weekend lockdown. Also, students are permitted to appear for examinations while app-based taxi services have been allowed only for essential reasons.
Domestic helps, drivers, cooks and nurses are allowed to travel between 7 am and 10 pm. Construction activity will be allowed, where labourers have accommodation facility.
The country's worst-hit city of has already shut down restaurants, cafes, sports activities, shopping malls and places of worship and barred the movement of most people to control the pandemic.
On Saturday, Dr Ravindra Shisve, Joint Commissioner of Pune Police on Saturday in a video message said, “During the weekend lockdown in Pune, all shops including those selling essential commodities except medical shops, hospitals, laboratories will remain close. Strict action will be taken against those found flouting curfew restrictions.”
“All establishments were shut today, however people from last two days are seen venturing out again. . There are 96 checkpoints in the city. Police are appealing all to stay indoors and co-operate police personnel those on duty,” he added.
FOLLOW RULES OR FACE LOCKDOWN
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who is also the Guardian Minister of Pune cautioned people of a complete lockdown if curfew rules are not followed strictly. Pawar who held a review meeting on Saturday with district officials stated that if people do not cooperate even after the enforcement of curfew then the administration has no option to impose complete lockdown.
“Puneties gave a good response to the curfew. We hope that they will continue to follow the same but if they fail to do so, lockdown is the last resort. I request people to adhere the rules and do not force the administration to take stern decision,” he said. Meanwhile, the Finaince Minister also granted Rs 1 crore to each of the 288 MLAs in Maharashtra for instant spending on COVID-19 related grievances.
He also launched a mobile application for patients optiong home isolation in Pune.
After taking a stock on situation on Friday, Pawar stated that a total of Rs 350 crore has been approved under local area development fund for legislators.
Meanwhile, Pune district on Friday recorded 10,963 new COVID-19 cases taking the progressive total to 6,96,933 cases. Of the total cases, Pune city (Pune Municipal Corporation) saw 5,373 cases followed by 2,529 cases in Pimpri Chinchwad (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation). The district on Friday reported 109 deaths taking the total death tally to 11,212.
