List of red, orange and green zones in Maharashtra

With an increasing number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the state government has released the list of red, orange and green zones in Maharashtra. CM Uddhav Thackeray, while addressing the citizens via social media, said that it would not be possible for the government to resume services in red and orange zones, post the lockdown. Here's the information released by the government.

As of April 30, 2020, the number of cases in the state crossed the 10,000-mark and Mumbai crossed 7,000-mark. Observing this rise, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sealed several parts of the city and increased the list of containment zones in Mumbai, most of which are in congested areas or slums. 

Further, the state officials recently stated that owing to the data and the coronavirus cases, lockdown in Mumbai and Pune may be extended until June. The CMs of all the states, in an online meeting with PM Narendra Modi, were told to approach a phase-wise procedure to lift lockdown, where services may resume in green zones first, following which decisions would be taken for orange and red zones. Recently State Health Minister, Rajesh Tope, said that the lockdown in red zones may seen an extension initially, until May 18. However, official announcements regarding the same are yet to be made.

Further, the central government has issued guidelines for the states to make decisions on sending the migrants back home. The notice shared on the official twitter handle of CMO Maharashtra designated all district collectors as the nodal authorities for the movement of stranded people into or outside the state. Officials have issued a strict warning that states, “No movement shall be permitted into or outside the state of Maharashtra unless the group of stranded people has obtained a letter from the appropriate district collector or the director of the state disaster management.” Adding to this CM Uddhav Thackeray during his address on May 1, 2020, said that if officials observe crowding, the state government may take a decision to stop the services of sending migrants back home, as following the protocol would be given utmost importance.