The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday, December 10, stated that the officials want to implement a night curfew in the city. The decision was taken keeping the increasing COVID-19 cases in mind and acting upon the same, Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal raised a demand for the same.
However, reports state that the Government of Maharashtra has rejected the demand and instead, instructed the citizens to be careful when in public, thereby ensuring rules are followed strictly to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Over the last few weeks, citizens have been flouting the rules by not wearing masks or not maintaining distance, and this has raised concerns for the civic body and the government.
The request for the night curfew was raised on these grounds under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, whereby the civic body wishes to implement the same between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am. Officials are the local administration had relaxed the restrictions under the Unlock guidelines issued by the state government. However, in a recent check at the nightclub, officials noted that the visitors were not following the norms while visiting the public areas and facilities. Moreover, there are several clubs in the city which have been operating till the early hours every weekend.
Responding to the government's decision, Chahal confirmed that the imposing a curfew could create a sense of panic, and as directed, the body will observe the pattern until Christmas, and if the people continue to flout the norms, then the government will have to impose the curfew.
The municipality has also raided other nightclubs in the city, where many people were seen in the nightclub without masks. Observing this, the police has lodged FIRs against the owners and action will be taken against them, which could lead to cancelling their licenses. Further, ward officers have been asked to continue such checks on a regular basis from this week.
Data released by the state health department reveals that Mumbai has a total of 2.87 lakh coronavirus cases, out of which more than 2.64 lakh patients have been cured and discharged. Currently, over 11,000 patients in the city are being treated for the infection and 10,929 have died due to coronavirus.
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