Pune: Frequent changes in norms, different curbs trigger confusion all around

PUNE: Citizens and businesses are in a state of confusion after going through months of lockdown and unlock phases, especially now with the district’s two municipal corporations — Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad — and the rural areas having different sets of curbs and relaxations under the five-level unlock plan based on positivity rate and oxygen bed capacity.
Pune retailers claimed that ever since the unlock activity began last week, traders had been a confused lot. Sachin Nivangune, president, Pune District Retail Traders’ Association, told TOI, “Implementing authorities like the police on ground are confused, too. We have had instances this week when essential shops were asked to close before 4pm because the police personnel were not sure about the operation hours in the PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) order issued before this Friday’s order.”

He said with restrictions changing from Pune city to Pune rural areas, several markets fall in a grey zone — a part of the market falling in Pune rural limits and the rest in the PMC area. “This has caused confusion in operation of non-essential shops, which can operate in the PMC limits but not in Pune rural areas,” said Nivangune.
Another retailer said, “The city’s positivity rate has fallen and hence, the curbs have been relaxed. But the authorities have clearly said restrictions could be re-imposed if the positivity rate started increasing/vacant beds started declining. Orders can change if things get bad, which would mean yet another cut in operation hours. Shopkeepers are no longer sure about the quantity of perishables to stock up as there is always a possibility of such items going waste if operational deadlines are reduced suddenly.”
Fatehchand Ranka, the president of Federation of All Trade Associations of Pune, told TOI, “Non-essential shops are happy about the PMC’s decision to allow operations till 7pm. But there is a lot of confusion among shops in various parts of the district because the PMC is now at level-2, the PCMC at level-3 and the Pune rural at level-4 of the unlock. Restrictions differ from one portion of the district to another.”
A source from the Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers Association (PRAHA) said the PMC should clarify if dine-ins were allowed in restaurants on weekends. The last PMC order was clear on dining in restaurants being allowed during weekdays and only parcel orders on weekends. “Though Friday’s order did not specify anything on weekend operation guidelines for restaurants, a clarity should be given on this because patrons may want to know,” he said.
A crockery shop owner from MG Road said, “Even after an announcement is made and news is forwarded on WhatsApp, I wait for the official PMC order and discuss with other shopkeepers in the area about what they plan to do before taking the decision to keep my establishment open till the new deadline. We don’t want to get into any arguments or hassles over what the latest regulations with the police.”
Malti Joshi, a resident of Shivajinagar, said, “Though authorities are trying their best and locking and unlocking according to the spread of the infection, public in general has been having a hard time figuring out what is on, what is not, when and where.”
(With inputs from
Anjali Jhangiani)