Chirang District Magistrate issues directions for functioning of some departments

Our Correspondent

Kokrajhar: The District Magistrate, Chirang and the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority on Monday issued some directions regarding the functioning of some departments having public utility services. They have been asked to observe health protocols, including social distancing, without diluting the spirit of the lockdown which is in force up to May 3, 2020.

According to the order, all government and private hospitals and all medical stores within the district, including medical equipment shops, veterinary hospitals, dispensaries, all supply firms serving both government and private hospitals, construction works related to health infrastructure, including workshop and garages for maintenance of ambulances, have been asked to remain open.

The order also said that agriculture related activities like farming, harvesting, procurement of agricultural products, any other activities to promote decentralized marketing of the agricultural produce at village level, shops of agricultural machinery, spare parts, including its supply chain and repairing, manufacturing, distribution, retail of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds and intra-district transportation of harvesting and sowing machines could be done again now.

All kinds of fishery related activities, distribution and sale of milk products, including transportation and maintenance of supply chain, poultry firm and hatcheries and livestock farming activities, including feed plants, operation of child and women care homes, places of safety for juveniles, operation of Anganwadis for distribution of food items and nutrition would be active now as earlier.

However, beneficiaries have been asked not to attend the Anganwadis because the Anganwadis will facilitate doorstep delivery. In the case of Panchayat and Rural Development, MGNREGA works have been allowed in strict conformity to social distancing and wearing of face mask with priority to be laid on irrigation and water conservation works.

Operation of oil and gas sector, including refining, transportation, distribution, storage and retail of products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, transmission and distribution of power by APDCL, AEGCL and PGCIL, operation of postal services, utilities in water, sanitation and waste management sectors at municipal and local body levels, providing telecommunications and internet services, transportation of goods traffic and essential commodities, movement of trucks and other goods carrier vehicles with two persons with valid driving license, shops for motor parts and dhabas on highways with maintenance of health protocol and labourers engaged in FCI godowns for lifting of PDS items are also allowed to operate.

All facilities connected with essential goods, including wholesale and retail stores, fair price shops for distribution of PDS items to the NFSA card holders, shops selling fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, fish and meat, animal feed and fodder will also be available between 10 am to 5 pm from Monday in the district.

Further, it has directed to restart the cable services and operation of Common Service Centres, courier services, hotels and lodges where tourists and other persons are stranded due to the lockdown and also for medical and emergency staff, self-employed persons like electrical, IT repair, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters.

Industries operating in rural areas, industrial establishments, industrial estates, industrial township, food processing industries, production units requiring continuous process to maintain the supply of chain, including construction activities like hardware stores, construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and all kinds of industrial projects and continuation of works in construction projects have been asked to remain open.

The order also stated that private vehicles for emergency services with one passenger and driver with possession of valid driving license and in case of two wheelers only driver are allowed.

It has also exempted all personnel travelling to the work place and back, police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management personnel and municipal services from the purview of lockdown. This order has come into effect from April 20 and will remain in force until further order.

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