The Maharashtra government is yet to give its final decision on whether the shops will be allowed to remain open in adherence to the amended guidelines issued by the Central government, today.
According to a PTI report that quoted an official the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday night was under an “active consideration” of the state government.
“This is issued by the Government of India. Not yet accepted by us,” he told PTI.
The MHA order quoted that “all shops, including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT will be allowed to open during the lockdown”.
The ministry also announced that shops located in registered markets located outside the municipal corporations and municipalities can now operate after following the drill of social distancing and wearing of masks but with 50 percent of strength.
However, single and multi-brands will remain closed in these areas also. In the guidelines issued on April 17, the Maharashtra government permitted resumption of industrial activities, particularly in the manufacturing sector in the non-containment zones.
However, this relaxation was later withdrawn on April 21 for Mumbai and Pune regions, which reported the maximum number of COVID-19 cases in the state.
The state government later gave go-ahead to pre-monsoon and works related to Metro trains in these regions.
