State Government notifies lock down in district Kangra
Kangra / 22 March / NSB News
A spokesperson of the state government informed here today that in exercise of the powers conferred under section 2, 3 and 4 of the Epidemic Disease Act,1897, the state government has framed the Himachal Pradesh Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations,2020 and under the Clause 3 of the aforesaid regulations, has hereby notified a lockdown in the revenue district of Kangra with immediate effect till further orders.
He said that all interstate and intrastate movement of public and private stage and contract carriages including taxies, autorickshaws etc has been prohibited. There would be total prohibition on movement or plying of trains ad commercial aircrafts. The private vehicles would be plied only if essentially required for visiting hospitals and for availing or maintenance of essential services. Goods carriage vehicles would however be allowed to ply, in respect of the services provided for in Clause2 of the order.
He said that all shops, commercial establishments, factories , workshops, godown etc would close their operations except for shops or stores selling groceries, milk, bread, fruit, vegetable, meat, fish and other uncooked food items and their transportation related activities and warehousing. He said that hospitals, chemist stores, optical stores, pharmaceuticals and soap manufacturing units and their ancillaries together with transportation related activities would remain operational. Besides, petrol pumps, LPG gas, oil agencies, their gowdowns and their transportation related activities would also be operational. E-commerce (delivery) of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipments would also be operational.
He said that production and manufacturing units, which require continous process, may continue to function, after obtaining required permission from the Deputy Commsssioner and following all precautionary protocols, as notified by Health Department from time to time. He said that units manufacturing alcohol for medicine/ sanitizers would be operational, subject to all precautionary protocols as notified by Health Department.He said that Deputy Commissioner decision would be final with regard to manufaturing units engaged in production of essential commodities.
He said that strict home quarantine would be observed by all foreign returnees, who landed in India on or after 9th March, 2020. All such foreign returnees would mandatorily notify the district Survillence Officer of the concerned district and 104 toll free number and register themselves for home quarantine, failing which they would be liable for legal action.
The spokesperson said that people are required to stay at home and come out only for basic purposes,like visit to grocery, vegetable shops, chemists, etc and for essential and permitted work related travel only and that too while strictly following social distancing guidelines issued from time to time. Under no circumstances, any social/cultural/ sports/ political/ religious/ academic/ family mass gatherings or gathering of any kind and purpose would be permited at any place.
He said that all the establishments which are allowed to be kept open, would also ensure social distancing within and outside their premises. He said that functioning of all the government offices would be regulated under notification issued on 21st March, 2020, except for offices charged with law and order, magisterial duties, police, armed forces, central para-military forces, health, treasury, urban local bodies, rural development, fire, electricity, water, municipal services, bank/ ATM, print/electronic/ social media, telecom, internet services including IT and ITeS, postal services, supply chain and related transportation and any other service which the DC of the concerned district deems to be essential.
He said that in case of any doubt as to whether a service establishment is essential or not, the DC would be competent authority to decide. The staff working of the mentioned departments would not proceed on leave and the already sanctioned leave is ordered to be cancelled, with immediate effect, except for maternity leave. He said that the leaves on medical ground would be admissiable only if certified by the District Medical Board.
