Uddhav Thackeray to announce strict lockdown today

Maharashtra will impose a stringent lockdown which will be announced on Wednesday by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, health minister Rajesh Tope has said. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting at the Mantralaya where ministers from Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress told the CM that the pandemic in each district was untenable as patients could not find hospital beds or oxygen.

“Till now the government has not used the word lockdown. However, we need a stringent lockdown and all ministers have said that it should be imposed from 8pm tomorrow. The lockdown should be as severe as last year’s. The decision on the lockdown has been taken and the chief minister will announce it by tomorrow,” health minister Rajesh Tope said.

The state needed to impose the lockdown as the health infrastructure was inundated and there was shortage of oxygen in government and private hospitals. Tope said the CM will decide what services will be allowed during the lockdown. Urban development minister Eknath Shinde said the state had no option but impose a stringent lockdown. “If we let the situation continue, then people would start dying on the roads.”


ET has learnt that the lockdown will be for 15 days and the state will try to set up more oxygen generating plants and other facilities by then to ensure that the lockdown can be lifted. The state plans to cut down inter-district travel.

People may require passes. Public transport may be allowed for government officials, police and medical services. The state has also decided to cancel exams for the Class X students but will hold Class XII exams.