Extending the ongoing lockdown till May 31 in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced a slew of relaxations and said her government will not impose night curfew in the state as proposed by the Centre.
Private offices, including those in shopping malls, can now operate with 50 per cent strength on alternate days. Salons and beauty parlours will also start functioning in the state. It has been pointed out that the same tools cannot be used on more than six people without disinfecting them.
Banerjee further said, “Hotels can be opened in Bengal but with strict social distancing in place. Inter-district buses will be allowed. Sports is permitted but no gathering of spectators can take place.”
“We won't officially declare night curfew because people are already under a lot of stress. We don't want to increase their suffering. But we will request people not to venture out of their homes between 7 pm and 7 am, or else police would take action,” Banerjee added.
In Bengal, containment zones will be divided into three categories - affected zones, buffer zones and clean zones.
Talking about the migrant situation, the CM observed, “We are bringing back the migrant workers. We are paying fares and taking care of all costs. Some two-three lakh people have come via buses, trains. This is not the time to do politics. Those who are coming to the border have to provide full information so that we can keep a track. Apart from the 105 trains already requisitioned by the state, the CM said that her government will request the railways for an additional 120 Shramik Special trains in the next few days to bring back migrant labourers.
While metro and train services will remain suspended, inter-district bus service will resume in West Bengal over the next few days. The CM urged people to strictly maintain social distancing and make masks a part of life.
(With inputs from PTI and NDTV)
A worker pulls a cart with passengers, during the fourth phase of the ongoing Covid-19 nationwide lockdown, in Kolkata, Monday, May 18, 2020. PTI
