Meghalaya may extend ban on inter-state travel beyond July 15

SHILLONG: As spike in COVID-19 cases continues in neighbouring Guwahati city, Meghalaya Government has decided to   continue with its restrictions on the inter-state movement besides ordering closure of all shops located along the roadside bordering Assam starting from Byrnihat to Rani from Tuesday.

The Government took the decision in its daily review meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister here on Monday. The shops will remain closed till July 15.

Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong later told reporters that Inter-State movement will not be allowed till July 15 and if required, Government would further extend the restrictions.

It may be mentioned that the inter-state movement has remained suspended since later part of March since the pandemic broke out in the country.

“The Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district has been directed to further regulate the shops located along the roadside,” he said

According to Deputy Chief Minister, Government took the decision since one side of the road is Assam and the other side is in Meghalaya and people from the state are bound to get infection if Government allow these shops to remain open as people from the Assam side would come to purchase from these shops amid lockdown in Guwahati.

To a question if the Government is exploring the possibilities of carrying out universal testing of the people residing along the inter-State border, he said that the Government would examine carrying out universal testing if they receive any proposal from the District Vigilance Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner in this regard.

“Government is always there to help them out,” Tynsong said.