No stringent lockdown in rural areas as of now: Collector

Nagpur: Even as social media is abuzz with talk of stringent lockdown like Pune and Aurangabad due to sudden surge in Covid-19 cases, collector Ravindra Thakare on Monday ruled out the possibility in the district’s rural areas.
Stressing that any such move would adversely affect farmers, at a time sowing season has just begun, he said no emergency exists for forcing yet another lockdown now.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe too clarified that he hadn’t declared any lockdown as yet. “However, those managing establishments, shops and markets, besides common citizens, need to strictly follow the guidelines like maintaining Covid distancing and wearing masks outside homes. Else, stricter lockdown with curfew is imminent,” he told TOI.
Justifying his stand, the collector said if the lockdown was imposed, it wouldn’t be for just four to five days, but at least a week or more. “Since the sowing season has just started, farmers need to take care of the crops. They need to sprinkle fertilizers and medicines to save crops from insects, and they need to procure material from shops. If shops are shut at this stage, their work would be severely hampered and the entire farming community would be affected,” he told TOI.
Adding that farmers’ hard work would go in vain due to big gap if lockdown was imposed, Thakare said his team had decided to rather enforce the rules stringently in rural areas to contain Covid-19 virus. “We’ve directed block development officers (BDO) and other law enforcing agencies like police to impose a fine of Rs500 on anyone roaming without masks. Also, those failing to maintain social distancing and other etiquette related to contagion, as declared by the government from time to time, would be punished,” he said.
Warning that he wouldn’t hesitate to enforce a lockdown if the situation worsens and there is a sudden spike in Covid positive cases, Thakare said currently the number of cases in rural areas was minimal. “As of now, the situation doesn’t warrant a lockdown. Our priority remains the farmers, who shouldn’t face problems. Their entire economy depends on the current season. Their families also suffer if shops and other establishments remain closed. Subsequently, entire rural economy would be affected, as a majority of citizens depend on farming in villages,” he said.
After stricter lockdown was imposed in cities like Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Aurangabad and Solapur due to jump in coronavirus cases, social media was full of speculations that Nagpur district too would follow the trend, particularly with Munde at the helm. However, both collector and NMC chief have clarified that they didn’t have any such plans as of now, bringing respite to aggrieved citizens hit hard by previous lockdowns.