No relaxation of curbs, state govt clarifies after minister announces unlock plan

Maharashtra: Relaxation of restrictions as per the situation in different areas is only under consideration and no decision has been taken, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office said.

An announcement by Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday that lockdown-like restrictions would be lifted in 18 districts of Maharashtra on Friday forced the government to clarify hastily that no such decision had been taken and that it was only a proposal under discussion. Blindsided by Wadettiwar’s announcement, which came soon after a meeting of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other ministers with the State Disaster Management Authority, at which a “five-step unlockdown” proposal was discussed in detail, and was disseminated across the country within minutes, the Chief Minister’s Office had to swiftly deny any such decision. Officials attached to the CMO were calling reporters to say that Wadettiwar’s statement was wrong and should not be disseminated. The government’s publicity department issued a clarification that the five-step unlockdown was only a proposal. The relief and rehabilitation department had proposed relaxation but any decision would be based on the Covid case count in each district, which is being looked at closely, the release said. “Covid’s second wave has still not reduced and the spread has increased in rural areas. A proposal is being examined on how the lockdown can be relaxed and no proposal has been okayed so far. A five-phase unlockdown process is being planned and the government will be informing at a formal level. The government is assessing the situation in various districts,” the government said in the clarification.