Lifting curbs to be decided on May 5

The relaxations announced by the Centre on Friday while extending the lockdown by another two weeks beyond May 4, will likely come into force in Telangana state only after May 7, when the extended lockdown ends in the state, and after the Cabinet meeting scheduled for May 5.

Sources close to the government disclosed that after the Centre extended the lockdown, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao consulted senior officers and his Cabinet colleagues and decided to have a detailed review of the situation on May 5 before taking the final call.

Sources said that though the relaxation for liquor sales announced by the Centre would bring in some revenue to the financially strapped government, the Chief Minister felt that it should move cautiously in this direction as the lives of its citizens is paramount.

The Union home ministry in its latest directive stipulated that sale of liquor, paan, gutkha, and tobacco, will be allowed with shops selling them ensuring minimum social distancing of do gaz ki doori from each other, and also ensuring that not more than five persons are present in the shop at one time.

Sources in the government revealed that a majority of senior officials and the top brass of the state police are not in favour of such opening up.

Keeping these view opinions in view the Chief Minister feels more detailed deliberations on allowing exemptions must be held. The latest guidelines have provided zone wise relaxation of the lockdown across the country with green zones having the most restrictions lifted and red zones the least.