SHILLONG: The state government on Monday decided to continue with the ongoing lockdown till April 30.
Later, after a positive case was detected in the city, the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate, M War and Ri Bhoi District Magistrate RM Kurbah imposed curfew for 48 hours starting from 6 am of April 14 to 6 am of April 16 in Shillong agglomeration and adjoining areas and Ri Bhoi.
Earlier, the decision to extend lockdown was taken in the cabinet meeting after thorough discussion on the prevailing situation in the state.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong also informed that government would extend financial benefits of Rs 700 per week to around one lakh twenty thousand workers who are in the unorganised sector. They will be given the financial help with effect from March 23 to April 14.
Relief for those stranded
In addition, the government has also decided to give a onetime financial assistance of Rs 3000 to over 3000 students and citizens of Meghalaya who are stranded in other parts of the country following the imposition of the lockdown.
Making it clear that inter-district movement will not be allowed in the state till the government reviews the matter, Tynsong added that the local village markets will be open.
However, it was left to the decision of the deputy commissioners to check the feasibility of reopening local village markets at districts which are interlinked with interstate boundary.
“The inter-state movement will be barred from all the entry and exit points,” Tynsong said.
Curfew order
The East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi deputy commissioners have changed their earlier order and promulgated total curfew for two days from Tuesday due to the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19.
However, the order will not be applicable to security forces, medical teams, police, armed forces, fire and emergency service and print and electronic media.
The district magistrates also cancelled the earlier order allowing wholesalers to open on April 14 and wine stores and bonded warehouses scheduled to open from April 13 to 17. Further, all curfew passes barring essential services and medical emergencies were suspended for the curfew period of 48 hours.
No private vehicles
The cabinet also changed its earlier decision of allowing private transportation, as the cabinet, after thorough discussions
and getting inputs from all the deputy commissioners, decided that private transport will not be allowed in urban areas.
He, however, said the deputy commissioners of other districts have been directed to come up with modalities whether it can be allowed in rural areas.
Movement of workers
The government said the migrant labourers within Meghalaya and who are taking shelter in government relief camps will be allowed to move out to their respective homes within the state. The deputy commissioner and Transport department will look into the matter.
He also said as far as government employees are concerned, the cabinet has decided that the attendance should not be more than 50 per cent and the chief secretary has been asked to come up with modalities.
Industries
On reopening of industries and factories as directed by the Centre, Tynsong said that cabinet has decided and directed the industries department to work out modalities whether the employees in respective industrial units are supposed to be brought in from outside the state or they are from the state.
The cabinet will only take a call whether to grant permission or not after that.
