‘Shut malls, shopping centres where rules are being flouted’

This picture has been used for representational purpose

Of the many demands raised by Congress city chief Bhai Jagtap and other party leaders before municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on Monday, the major one was restrictions for shopping centres and malls in certain parts of the city. Jagtap along with others met the civic chief and said that people were not following COVID-19 protocols at many shopping places and that they should be shut down.

He said that a couple of shopping centres in Kandivli and Malad were witnessing huge crowds and they were not following COVID-appropriate behaviour.

"I urged the commissioner to shut the places where people are not following COVID rules. In one such centre many were seen crowding, and after I complained about it, action was taken. Citizens should take precautions as cases are rising," said Jagtap at a press conference at the BMC headquarters on Monday.

He added, "At the time of Mahashivratri, the authorities decided to shut temples and citizens cooperated with us. But these shopping centres and malls are not taking anything seriously and violating all norms. The municipal commissioner also told me about the sharp rise in cases over the past few days, which is alarming."

He also pointed out the issues related to the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project and sought rehabilitation of people affected by widening of nullahs within a radius of five kilometres of their homes. The Congress also demanded complete property tax waiver for houses up to 500 square feet and 60 per cent waiver for houses of 500 to 700 square feet.