Standalone shops to open in rural areas: Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary

No relaxations in ‘Red’ zones and urban areas

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The State Cabinet has decided to open shops, but not markets or haats, in rural areas across the districts that have been tagged as ‘Green’ and ‘Orange’ zones. This apart, the inter-district movement in the State has been extended up to May 2.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video conferencing with Chief Ministers, the State Cabinet met on Monday and took these decisions.

Talking to the media after the Cabinet meeting, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, “Standalone shops in rural areas in the ‘Green’ and ‘Orange’ zone districts except the containment areas will open. However, no bazaars and haats will open. For urban areas, it will be reviewed on May 3. Such shops will also not be allowed to open in five-km width stretches in rural areas in the ‘Green’ and ‘Orange’ zones that share border with red zone districts till May 3. Taking the problems of stranded people into consideration, the inter-district movement of people has also been extended up to May 2. All these decisions will be effective from April 28. There’s no relaxation in urban areas.”

The districts in Assam that have been tagged as ‘Red’ zones by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are Golaghat, Nalbari, Dhubri, Goalpara and Morigaon.

The seven districts declared as ‘Orange’ zones in the State are South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Kamrup, Kamrup(M), Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi.

The 19 ‘Green’ zone districts are Dhemaji, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Biswanath Chariali, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Sivasagar, Majuli, Nagaon, Kokrajhar, Hojai, Darrang, Chirang, Charaideo, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Baksa and Udalguri.

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