Back to pre-Green Zone days: Govt fishes out earlier restrictions, to be in force till May 17
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 06 2020: Doing away with the idea of easing the lockdown districtwise, the State Government has instead reverted to the earlier restrictions enforced before the lockdown was eased after Manipur was declared a Green Zone.

Towards this end, the Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority has reissued the list of activities which were in force earlier and this will be in force between May 6 and May 17 .

It has also notified that the National directives for COVID-19 management shall be enforced in the entire State of Manipur through fines and penal actions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 .

Back to pre-Green Zone days: Govt fishes out earlier restrictions, to be in force till May 17s

The fresh guidelines, albeit the ones already in force earlier and overriding the one of May 3, was issued with the concurrence of the State Cabinet and in view of the developments in the neighbouring States and arrival of people stranded outside Manipur.

One modification is that wholesale markets will be opened on all days except Sundays till May 17.The State Government also decided to bear the expenses (fare) of bringing back stranded persons by train.

This decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held with Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the chair at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today.

However, the Cabinet decided that the costs for other modes of travel will be met by passengers themselves.

The State Government will issue necessary passes for facilitating their movement in this regard.

The Cabinet also thoroughly discussed the management of quarantine centres in the State.

Those stranded persons returning to the State who are neither COVID-19 suspects nor COVID-19 contacts, and asymptomatic, will be kept under home quarantine as per protocol.

However, if community objects to home quarantine, for any such returnee, such person will be accommodated in 'community quarantine centre'.

All arrangements for lodging in community quarantine centres will be made by the community through local clubs, village authorities, etc with involvement of MLAs concerned and Deputy Commissioners.

The State Government will provide Rs 200 per head per day towards food for returnees accommodated at the community quarantine centres.

The food will be delivered by the bodies designated to be in charge of the quarantine centres.

The Deputy Commissioners through local clubs may also organize food for inmates.

Listing activities which will be permitted between May 6 and May 17, the Home Department in a notification said that supply of essential goods - home delivery of essential commodities, grocery shops, sale of vegetables, fruits, poultry meat and fish will be allowed from 6 am to 2 pm on all days except Sundays.

Social distancing should be maintained and face mask is compulsory in all public place, said the notification adding that wholesale markets at Imphal shall be opened on days except Sundays as per permits issued by the DCs concerned.

Movement of people on vehicles is restricted except pass holders.

Movement of trucks and other carrier vehicles is allowed with two drivers and one helper and all goods vehicles are allowed to cross inter-State border at Mao, Jiribam and Jessami, said the notification further.

Drivers and helpers of trucks and goods carrier vehicles should follow the Standard Operating Protocol as notified by the Home Department and anyone visiting home shall remain under home quarantine as per the advice of the Health Department.

Shops for truck repairs and dhabas on highways are allowed to be open subject to social distancing.

Health related activities, public utilities including LPG home delivery, postal services including post office, telecommunication and internet services, agriculture and related activities, fisheries, animal husbandry, finance sector including RBI and RBI regulated financial market, bank branches and ATMs and business correspondents, social sector, online teaching, MNREGA works, print and electronic media, courier services, mineral water manufacturing and distribution, home delivery of food by restaurants and outlets, construction activities have also been added to the permitted list.

Other permitted sectors include movement of private vehicles for emergency services including medical and veterinary care and those exempted category of employees attending work places.

All State Government offices will be opened and all officers of the rank of Under Secretary and above should attend.

For other categories, 33 percent of the staff will attend office by rotation.

All Treasury offices to open with required staff, all offices dealing with essential services and all Central Government offices to function as per guidelines issued by the Government of India.

A total ban on visitors has also been enforced at all Government offices.

Significantly the new order issued today is similar to the guidelines issued on April 20 and which became effective from April 21 this year in the effort to flatten the curve of the infection.