NEW DELHI/MUMBAI • India's Maharashtra state, the country's largest regional economy, will allow a limited number of sectors to resume business today, after a weeks-long shutdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus left millions out of work.
Maharashtra, home to financial centre Mumbai, has the biggest share of India's caseload of over 16,000 infections, including a large number now ripping through its densely packed slums.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told a news conference yesterday that some activity would be permitted in the least-affected parts of the state while a strict lockdown will be observed in the red zones that have the maximum number of cases.
"We need to start the economic wheels again. We are giving selective permissions from tomorrow, especially in orange zones and green zones," he said, referring to areas with lower levels of infection.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the nationwide lockdown that began late last month until May 3, but the federal government has allowed states to restart activity amid economic distress in rural areas.
Farming, highway construction and manufacturing will be allowed this week in hinterland areas not heavily affected by the virus, the federal government said.
Thousands of migrant workers fled the big cities for their homes in the countryside, unable to pay for rent or food after the shutdown went into force.
But Delhi's chief minister, Mr Arvind Kejriwal, said there would be no easing of rules in the capital, which accounts for more than a third of cases.
"Currently, lockdown is necessary. No relaxations should be given in the hot spots in the city," he told a press conference, adding that he will review the situation later in the month.
There are fears that South Asia, home to a fifth of the world's population, could become a major new front in the global war against Covid-19. A big outbreak would overwhelm poorly funded health systems across the region.
Yesterday, the Indian government also revoked permission for e-commerce firms like Flipkart and Amazon.com to supply non-essential goods during the lockdown.
The decision came after the Confederation of All India Traders, which represents millions of small bricks-and-mortar businesses, said allowing online firms to deliver non-essential products would give them an unfair advantage.
Trade Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed the federal government's decision. "This will create a level playing field for small retailers," he said.
REUTERS
