The Maharashtra government has denied Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) request to impose night curfew between 11pm and 6am in the city, after it found many night clubs violating the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, and operating till 4am on weekends, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said on Wednesday. During several raids, BMC found over 2,000 people gathered in small spaces of less than 4,000 square metres, not wearing masks, and not maintaining social distancing. The letter with this request was written earlier this week. However, Chahal said,
“The government is not in favour of imposing a curfew as it creates panic among citizens, and has decided to wait and watch till December 25. If citizens continue to violate the Epidemic Act, are careless about Covid-19 guidelines, and the establishments continue to operate overnight, the government will be forced to impose a curfew.”According to the Epidemic Act, more than 50 people are not allowed to gather at a location at a time. Meanwhile, a decision about permitting the general public to travel by suburban local trains in Mumbai will also be taken after New year celebrations are over, Mumbai municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said on Thursday. On Wednesday, Mumbai reported 716 new cases of Covid-19 and 15 new deaths. The city recorded 874 recoveries taking its cured tally to 2,64,228 cases. Mumbai's tally rose to 2,87,891 with 11,903 active cases and 10,935 fatalities. The maximum city, which was initially the worst affected district in the country, had improved its position to the fourth place below Bengaluru, Delhi and Pune.