On the backdrop of decreasing COVID cases and zero deaths from last one months, Ravindra Thackeray the then District Collector has recommended to the State Government to allow shops/establishments in Nagpur district to be allowed to function till 8 pm. He appelaed this in a letter during weekly review of the situation taken by the District Disaster Management Authority pp(DDMA) on July 9.
As per the states order shops and establishments are allowed to remain open only till 4 pm from July 12 (Monday).
Thakare, in a letter to Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation Department, stated that, the number of COVID-19 cases was 150 and the situation is under control.
The COVID-19 case positivity rate was only 0.46 per cent for the period between July 5 and July 8 and occupancy of oxygen beds was only 0.68 per cent, he added.
It worth mentioning here that the very same day, the Government named R Vimala as the new Collector of Nagpur.
From Saturday, R Vimala took charge of the office of Collector.
As per the parameters set vide Government order dated June 4, 2021, Nagpur district qualified for Level-1. However, as per the order dated June 25, 2021, entire State was placed in Level-3.
In the meeting, Thakare stated in the letter, “There is adverse impact on businesses and economic activities due to Level-3 restrictions. Business and trade organisations have submitted memorandums andcomplaints in this regard.
Considering the situation, all the officers present in the DDMA meeting and President of Nagpur Zilla Parishad were unanimous regarding need for relaxing the
Level-3 restrictions,†the letter stated.
Accordingly, DDMA passed a resolution, recommending to allow shops/establishments in Nagpur district to operate till 8 pm and restaurants to be allowed till 10 pm. However, from the
order issued later on,it was clear that the District Collector’s recommendation did not get nod from the higher authorities