Essential stores to remain open in other districts
TURA: In the light of widespread overcrowding in towns that was witnessed across the five districts of Garo Hills on Thursday, the administration in the respective districts have decided to alter the supply chain of essential commodities to try and maintain social distancing and adhere to the guidelines of the health department in preventing infection from coronavirus (COVID-19).
The administration in Tura is currently halting operation of open markets to stop people from venturing out to do shopping. In its place, a home delivery system is being arranged for distribution of food and medical supplies in each locality.
An order from the deputy commissioner on his official social media site said, “No opening of markets in West Garo Hills till further orders as we are replenishing our stock of essential commodities. People in Tura are not following social distancing norms fully which necessitates home deliveries/ locality deliveries. Local youths are coming forward to do home deliveries of various essential commodities and other food items. Coordination with locality development committees in Tura is being done for locality-level demand and deliveries. One team will procure vegetables from rural areas and deliver in various localities in Tura. For other areas in Garo Hills necessary arrangements will be done for essential commodities and opening of market areas.”
Ram Singh also informed that a team led by a youth, Todaniel Sangma, will supply essential commodities by home delivery in Tura.
“One can contact him (Todaniel Sangma) on 8787590723. I request more youth to come forward, either join him or set up your own home/locality delivery service for delivery of essential commodities in Tura. No car pass will be allowed,” said Singh.
For those in need of medical supplies, the deputy commissioner has put out numbers of three pharmacy operators for people in need to contact, namely, Arun Agarwal – 9856035930, Bimal Jain – 9436313135 and Dashrat Naya – 7005108299.
Stores open daily in
other GH towns
Meanwhile, to prevent any future crowding, the administration in Williamnagar has decided to allow grocery stores and pharmacies to remain open every day during the ongoing lockdown so that the public do not go into panic buying and instead limited number of people come out and purchase their daily requirements.
North Garo Hills has also gone the Williamnagar way by allowing just grocery and medical stores to function unhindered.
“A tighter control on crowds has been taken and awareness given to the public that there is no need for panic buying since stores providing essential items will be allowed to function every day,” a confident Deputy Commissioner SC Sadhu mentioned.
In Baghmara, district headquarters of South Garo Hills, Deputy Commissioner Hubert B Marak announced that delivery of vegetables and other essential goods would be undertaken locality-wise in the town to avoid people from venturing out into markets.
With regard to Ampati, South-West Garo Hills, the administration has put in place a decentralisation programme for distribution of essential items.
“Grocery shops and medical stores will be allowed to open locality-wise in consultation and with support from their management committees. Some shops can also open on alternate days as well,” informed Deputy Commissioner Ram Krishna Chitturi.
He, however, clarified that no big markets, such as those at Ampati, Betasing and Mahendraganj, will be allowed to function.
