Mawkyrwat/SHILLONG: In view of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country and to put in place preventive measures to ensure there is no possible outbreak in the state, the District Magistrates of South West Khasi Hills (SWKH) district and East Jaintia Hills (EJH) district on Monday imposed Section 144 CrPC prohibiting operation of all markets, commercial and business establishments.
SWKH Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo said that the order, which will remain in force till Thursday, was issued with a view to put in place the preventive measures and awareness to identify and take steps to ensure social distancing and home quarantine is practised, so there is no COVID-19 outbreak in the district.
Through the Section 144 CrPC, all forms of public transport, assembly or gathering of five or more persons in public areas, premises, commercial and residential localities beyond the individual households are restricted.
The DC also restricted the operation of all commercial and business establishment in the district, adding that the restrictions will not apply to shops, stalls, godowns, establishments, who are dealing with essential items and services including pharmacies, grocery shops, vegetables and fruits vendors, meat and fish vendors, shops selling rice, pulses, wheat, millets, toiletries, LPG cylinders outlets and deliveries, petrol pumps, banks and ATMs.
However, the shops, stalls, godowns, establishments have been directed to strictly follow social distancing measures with their customers.
The DC also said that the order will not be applicable to the security forces and medical teams on duty, pharmacies and all essential services including health services, MeECL, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Police and Fire Emergency Service, etc.
“Movement of vehicles carrying essential commodities, security forces, medical equipments and goods are also exempted. However, drivers and attendants of the vehicles shall be subject to medical screening as per laid down protocols,” the DC said. “No inter-state/inter-district plying of any public transport vehicles,” the DC added.
Meanwhile, in EJH, the order, which will be in force till March 31, also prohibits door-to-door distribution of newspapers with the same having to be purchased from a designated stall in the market where the vendor will need to apply sanitiser on himself and customers before delivery.
As per the order, buying of packets of betel nut and betel leaf from vendors in bulk has also been prohibited, except for one’s own personal consumption, and the same should not be distributed or shared with another person (s),” the EJH District Magistrate said.
The EJH District Magistrate has also prohibited all forms of public transport in the district till March 31.
