Delhi govt seeks to ease Covid curbs, but L-G says not yet

Responding to the rejection, the Delhi government said: “When all shops are open in Gurgaon and Noida, why should the business community of Delhi suffer?”

Raj Niwas sources said the L-G “had suggested that status quo be maintained with regards to weekend curfew and opening of markets and a decision be taken once the Covid situation improves further”.

Prior to the L-G’s decision, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said in a statement, “Covid cases in Delhi were at a peak on January 12 and the positivity rate was at 30 per cent. But now, cases are reducing daily and have come down to 10,500 today. Keeping in view the dip as well as people who are facing financial crises and losing jobs due to the restrictions, the government has decided to lift the weekend curfew, odd-even system in markets, and allow private offices to operate at 50 per cent capacity.”

“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved the proposal and sent it to L-G Baijal for final approval. Once we get the approval, the same will be implemented in Delhi,” Sisodia said, adding that the Covid peak was over in the city.

The rejection from the L-G also took a political turn as the AAP government blamed the BJP-led central government. “It is unfortunate that L-G has rejected the strong demand of traders and the business community. The L-G has rejected the proposal of the elected government despite the fact that Covid cases are reducing at a very fast pace. When all markets of Gurgaon and Noida are open, why should the business community of Delhi be made to suffer by the BJP’s central government?”

The Delhi government has been facing pressure over the curbs. Its decision came days after the New Delhi Traders Association, Sadar Bazar traders and other market associations held a protest demanding that the odd-even policy be lifted as it was hurting them financially and many employees were losing jobs.

Following the L-G’s decision, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) issued revised guidelines. “DDMA hereby directs that in territory of NCT Delhi (outside containment zones), all private offices shall be allowed to function with upto 50% of attendance with immediate effect. Further, private offices are advised to stagger the office timing and also stagger the presence and quantum of staff with an objective to reduce the number of employees attending office at the same time so as to ensure the protocol pertaining to social distancing at workplace. They are further advised to follow the practice of work from home, as far as possible,” it said.

It also clarified that night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am and weekend curfew from 10 pm Friday till 5 am Monday will continue until further orders.

A senior official said that as the situation improves further, the DDMA will hold a meeting to review the restrictions.

The weekend curfew in Delhi was imposed from January 7 and the odd-even scheme was implemented in markets from January 1. Covid cases have reduced over the past week and the positivity rate has come down. A total of 10,756 cases were recorded on Friday.