After people in several parts of the State overcrowded the shops selling essential commodities and other places during the curfew relaxation hours, Himachal Government on Friday reduced the curfew hours to only 3 from Saturday onwards.
The State Government had on Thursday decided to give six hours relaxation in curfew by maintaining proper social distancing, but it was felt that the people were misusing this relaxation and coming out unnecessarily thereby defeating the purpose of curfew.
Now, the State Government had decided to give three hours relaxation daily in the curfew so that people could purchase essential commodities nearer to their homes, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said in a video conference meeting with the Deputy Commissioners of the State from Shimla.
Thakur said Deputy Commissioners would be authorised to fix the relaxation time as per their suitability and requirements of the respective district. He asked the Deputy Commissioners that endeavours should be made on home delivery of essential commodities so that people could not come out from their homes for getting daily need items besides ensuring proper distancing between person to person.
The CM said DCs must evolve some mechanism particularly in urban areas by roping in big chains like mega mart, big bazaar and other wholesale sellers to ensure home delivery. He said that in rural areas also Panchayati Raj Institutions could be involved to provide delivery of essential commodities to the people at least nearer to their localities. He also urged the volunteers to come forward in providing home delivery of essential items to the people.
The Chief Minister said that it should also be ensured that no one is left without food and shelter and same should be provided in the urban areas to the labourers. He said that special thrust should be laid to provide all possible help to the industrial workers stranded in industrial areas and construction workers in various project sites. He said that lists of labourers in apple belt and other rural areas should be prepared so that they were provided food and shelter accordingly.
Thakur said it should be ensured that medicine shops were opened and supply of milk and vegetables was adequate in the State so that people do not face any inconvenience in getting these items during the period of relaxation of curfew. He also asked the Milkfed and Kamdhenu to ensure proper supply of milk and its items in the urban areas to facilitate the people.
He directed the Deputy Commissioners to identify such areas where people could be provided vegetables and milk without any inconvenience and proper social distancing could be maintained. He said that locations should also be identified for street vendors and urged the people to ensure that they purchase essential commodities during the relaxation in the curfew from their own locality and do not use vehicle for purpose.
Thakur also asked the Deputy Commissioners to make such arrangements that farmers and horticulturists do not face any problem in getting fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and spray oils for their crops during relaxation of curfew.
Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Khachi apprised the Chief Minister about the steps taken by the Government to ensure effective implementation of curfew in the State and assured that an effective mechanism would be evolved to provide essential commodities to the people at their door steps.
Additional Chief Secretary Health R.D. Dhiman said that there was adequate availability of sanitizers and Personal Protection equipment (PPE) kits and medical and paramedical staff was kept on alert to tackle the situation.
Director General of Police S.R. Mardi said that essential commodities vehicles would not be unnecessarily harassed as this would hamper supply of commodities.
