CM receives over 5 lakh responses in 24 hours

Maximum suggest educational institutes remain shut

15/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,NEW DELHI

A man sells masks on a hot Thursday afternoon in the city.Sushil Kumar Verma

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said his appeal to the people for suggestions regarding lockdown relaxations post-May 17 has received an overwhelming response.

The responses were received on various sections such as transport, industries, businesses among others, he said, adding all the suggestions given by the people of Delhi were discussed in a meeting with the Lieutenant-Governor.

“Two days back, I had asked whether the lockdown should be extended or lifted. In only 24 hours, we received more than 5 lakh responses, including around 4,75,000 messages on WhatsApp, 10,700 e-mails, and 49,000 calls,” he said. Mr. Kejriwal said the maximum number of people had suggested that educational institutions remain closed until after the summer break. Some said hotels should not resume facilities but restaurants must open barring dine-in arrangements but take-away or home-delivery must resume.

There were also suggestions that barbershops and hair salons must not resume services. In the same way, cinema halls and swimming pools, and other such gathering places must not open for now. “A lot of people have also asked the logic behind not going out after 7 p.m. they are of the view that the timeline should be relaxed. However, every suggestion that I saw said that senior citizens, people with other serious ailments, children below 10 years and pregnant women should stay home,” he said.

“Everyone has suggested strict fines must be imposed on those not wearing masks. People have suggested the opening of parks,” he said.

He also added that many people have given their suggestions for the resumption of transport services, including autorickshaws and taxis, with only one passenger allowed in autos and two passengers in taxis and disinfection of these vehicles after each ride. A majority of people are in favour of the resumption of bus services, he said, but with not more than 25 people travelling on a bus. People have also suggested that metros should be open in a limited manner.

3 changes in next phase

The government said it had conveyed to the L-G three changes it wants in the next phase of the lockdown from May 18. The changes are opening of markets and shopping complexes with non-essential shops on the odd-even basis, starting of public transport, including metro and buses, and allowing labourers to travel inside Delhi for work, it told the L-G. “All these changes would not be applicable in the containment zones,” said a source.

The government will prepare SoPs for implementation of each of the changes after which the L-G will then convey these to the Centre.