Economic fears rise amid Maharashtra ’s mini-lockdowns, authorities argue it would hurt the economy

Mumbai: A section of senior government officials in Maharashtra, traders and NGOs are critical of the way authorities are imposing lockdowns in the state, arguing that it wouldn’t help contain Covid-19 but would hurt the economy.

Lockdowns are being imposed rather indiscriminately, in some cities and districts for three days and in some other places for seven or 14 days, officials ET spoke to said. This, they said, was in fact hindering the fight against the pandemic.

“How does a lockdown of two or seven days help in bringing down cases,” asked one official. People come out in droves on the street to buy stuff as soon as the lockdown is over on the eighth day or the 15th day, “social distancing goes for a toss and we will have again after a few days a spike in cases”, he added.