The lockdown notification issued by the Maharashtra State Government on April 17 has been revised to facilitate the resumption of works for waterproofing and other essential projects to protect residents from the upcoming monsoons in Mumbai. These works will include shuttering, flood protection in key areas, as well as the demolition of buildings that are deemed unsafe.
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Authorities have mentioned that workers will need to maintain adequate social distancing on-site and are also required to wear masks. It’s worth mentioning that the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) has already received permission from the state government to resume monsoon related civic works across the city.
Thane district has also permitted working on projects that help the region prepare for the monsoons. This only applies to regions that are outside the containment zones as decided by the local municipal corporations. Keeping this in mind, permission hasn’t been granted for private construction projects to resume work.
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Previously, the government also allowed the movement of care-givers for senior citizens who are unable to leave their homes. Given that the country is going through a prolonged period of lockdown to effectively flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases, several at-risk patients, including those that require dialysis and chemotherapy faced hurdles initially. However, steps have been taken to make sure they get the necessary care and attention.
The state authorities are currently mulling the safe reopening of shops and essential goods providers in designated green zones. This won’t apply to Mumbai, however, as the city will likely see its lockdown extending until the 15th or 18th of May as per recent reports.
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