ITANAGAR, Apr 13: In a bid to break the chain of transmission of novel Coronavirus which is on the surge across the country with over nine thousand confirmed cases and more than three hundred casualties, the existing lockdown in Arunachal Pradesh has been extended to April 30 next.
This was decided by the state cabinet with “general consensus” from all stakeholders as it met today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pema Khandu to discuss COVID-19 situation in Arunachal and post 14th April strategy.
While acknowledging the support received from the people of Arunachal Pradesh including traders, students, media personnel, NGOs, CBOs, Gaon Burahs, public leaders and others during the 21-day lockdown which is going to end on April 14, the Cabinet expressed satisfaction about overall handling by the administration and appreciated efforts of all officials engaged in managing the Covid-19 situation.
It was observed that we must continue with our efforts to ensure that Coronavirus is not spread in our state. While we are taking prompt steps in strengthening the medical facilities, we must continue with the preventive measures too, said an official press note.
Obtaining views of all political parties in the State, CBOs and other stakeholders, the Cabinet stated that there was overall consensus that the current lockdown should be extended further.
While deciding on post April 14 strategy, Cabinet based its decisions on several basic principles, which included keep Covid-19 situation under control through active vigil, checking, testing and controls; keep working on improving capacity and preparedness of health system; follow all existing guidelines issued by GoI from time to time; gradual-phased and calibrated opening of economic activities from lockdown to lockin and achieving new normal adherence to social distancing, personal hygiene, hand washing, face mask protocol, avoiding public gathering etc.
Based on the said principles and consultations with various stakeholders, the Cabinet decided to extend the period of present lockdown till 30th April next. While all the restrictions imposed and exemptions allowed during the lockdown 1.0 would be continued as it is, few more exemptions are approved by the cabinet for the lockdown 2.0.
These exemptions are a) Government Offices - It was decided that all government offices in the district would commence their working from 15th April. The state level offices such as Directorates, heads of offices and secretariat would start their operations from 15th April, except for some non-essential offices.
While all officers/officials would attend the offices, only 50 percent of MTS should be asked to attend the office on rotational basis. Also, the government employees are encouraged to use public transport during this period. Passes will be issued for some important govt vehicles.
b) Agriculture, horticulture and activities such as tea garden - The Deputy Commissioners and concerned Directors to ensure that all agriculture, horticulture and MGNREGA related works to resume work owing to the sowing and harvesting season. Compliance to protocols laid down by Health department to be ensured. No new workers will be allowed from outside the state or from other districts. They have to strictly comply with social distancing norms, cleanliness, personal hygiene and mandatory usage of face masks. The DCs shall regulate the labour movement within the districts and prevailing situation.
c) Industry - Industries would resume their work on case to case basis as decided by the Industries department in consultation with respective DCs, but such establishments have to strictly comply with social distancing norms, cleanliness, personal hygiene and mandatory usage of face masks. The activity should be confined in one place with strict monitoring of COVID-19 norms. Permission of DCs to be obtained by giving all details of the industry including the labour present at that point, raw material requirement and requirement of material to be transported to or from Assam or any other place from Arunachal. Inter district / Inter State movement of labor strictly prohibited.
d) Construction - Construction/Infrastructure related works, where workers are already available would be allowed to resume the work. No new workers will be allowed from outside the state or from other districts. Permission of DCs to be obtained by giving all details of the construction activity including the labour present at that point, raw material requirement and requirement of material to be transported to or from Assam or any other place from Arunachal.
e) Transport - Private vehicles will not be allowed to ply till 30th April. Inter-district movement will not be allowed. Fixed schedule state transport buses only to be used for intra-district movement following social distancing norms. Mask wearing is compulsory in all public transports. Use of hand sanitizers has been made mandatory on entry in the public transport. All State transport buses shall function with 50% occupancy and mandatory masks for all to maintain social distancing. Disinfection and cleaning of state transport buses to be done twice a day.
Meanwhile, the students and other citizens of Arunachal Pradesh who are stranded at various locations in the country have been advised not to travel back to Arunachal Pradesh till 30th April. The Government has appointed senior officers as nodal officer for each state to support the students and citizens of Arunachal Pradesh in this difficult time. It has also decided to release Rs 53 crore as post-matric scholarship to 20500 students and Arunachal Pradesh stipend scheme to 18094 students immediately.
With Arunachal Pradesh having long and porous inter-state border, the official release stated, we have 28 police check posts on Assam-Arunachal border to check the movement of people and vehicles. Keeping in view the possibility of un-authorized entry/migration through this porous border, police has made elaborate arrangements to check such un-authorized movement along with GBs, CBOs and village voluntary forces along the border to guard the inter-state border. Besides this, several temporary check posts will be started at vulnerable areas along with the border to prevent such un-authorized entry.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar said that the ICU in TRIHMS and Pasighat General Hospital have been made operational. The government is in the process of setting up smaller ICUs at Aalo, Khonsa, Tawang, Tezu, and Ziro within this month.
The CS said that the state has a “comfortable stock” of 2,000 metric tonne of rice in the state which can cater to three months’ needs. He also said that the DCs and food-producing organisations will coordinate to allow for the transportation of vegetables from the western part of the state where production is high.
He also said that the state is receiving “sizeable assistance” from the Centre, and that the state currently has 1,300 Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and is expecting to receive 3,000 of them in the next 48 hours.
“We are working to bring in 20,000 PPEs and the supply line has improved a lot,” he said, adding that there is a “good quantity” of N95 masks.