With the festival season upon us, the Centre had proclaimed an advisory stating the imposition of curbs. In light of this, the Konkan region’s two districts, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, apart from having a limited healthcare infrastructure, also have a positivity rate that is higher than the state’s average. It is anticipated that many from Mumbai, Pune and Thane may travel to their native places in Konkan for the approaching Ganesh festivities.
Thus, District Information Officer in Sindhudurg, Prashant Satpute, based on accounts elaborated that those fully vaccinated and under 18 years of age are exempted. However, others coming to the district during the festive season need to have a negative RT-PCR report issued 72 hours prior.
Opposition parties have criticised this move and want the said requirement to be removed. The government, however, stated that districts have the power to make local directives to limit their covid-19 numbers.
This isn’t the first time that the opposition has voiced its discontent with the government’s decision. During the recent Dahi Handi festivity, the state government had prohibited its public celebration. Despite this, many opposition party leaders celebrated the festivities as a mark of defiance. In Mumbai and Thane, nine and two cases were registered respectively against MNS workers for celebrating the festival in the public sphere.
Apart from this, the BJP too had conducted agitations across Maharashtra, earlier this week, demanding that shrines be open for the public.
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