Lockdown 5: Activities permitted in East Jaintia Hills District

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 31, 2020

The District Magistrate, East Jaintia Hills District in a press release issued here informs the general public that in order to enable the local residents to purchase daily essential commodities and to meet their commercial requirements in East Jaintia Hills District, during the National Lockdown called by the Government of India in Ministry of Home Affairs concerning COVID-19 situation in the State and in the Country.

The following private and commercial establishments and shops shall open in all villages and localities of East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat with effect from 1^st June, 2020 to 8^th June, 2020 until further orders.

The retailer shops that are scheduled to open from 9.00 AM TO 1.00 PM for 5 (five) days of the week from Monday to Friday are groceries shops, vegetable, fruit, meat vendors, confectionery shops and essential items shops, registered suppliers and retailers of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, Government of Meghalaya to open exclusively for sale of only livestock, poultry and pet feed, registered suppliers and retailers of Agriculture Department, Government of  Meghalaya shall open exclusively for sale of only agricultural inputs, hardware and electrical shops, home delivery of books by book stalls mobile car repairing service consisting of a driver and 2 (two) technicians/mechanics and dry cleaning shops. 

Other private and commercial establishments shops permitted to open according to the aforementioned days and timings are shops that sell products and clothes for new born babies, kitchen utensils shops and kitchen appliance repair, travel agencies, repair and service mobile phone, computers as well as mobile phone recharging centers, stationery shops, stand-alone automobile repair shops for repairing works of vehicles, auto spare part shops and Automobile showroom. 

All the Fair Price Shops under NFSA and non NFSA and S.K Oil Retailers in East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat will open from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM for 5 (five) days of the week from Monday to Friday as for Wholesaler shops the time allotted is from 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM for 5(five) days of the week from Monday to Friday.

The District Magistrate has also permitted shops and services in the District with effect from 1^st  June 2020 to 8^th  June, 2020 from 9.00 AM to 1.00 PM for five days of the Week from Monday to Friday which included sale of dry fish or processed fish (including fermented fish and smoke fish), collection centre’s of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited which will open in the Community Halls of each locality throughout East Jaintia Hills District, Courier Services for essential goods, E-Commercial operations in essential goods, E-Commercial operations are permitted only for the lists of essential good,  Common Service Centres (CSCs), distribution of Packaged Drinking Water and Juices, authorized car wash which are registered with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. Selected wine stores shall also open  with effect from 1^st June, 2020 to 8^th June, 2020 until further orders from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for 5(five) days of the week from Monday to Friday.

Pharmacies (Supply and Retail), Veterinary Hospital, dispensaries, Climes, sale and supply of medicines and vaccines are also permitted to open. Also, petrol pumps, home delivery, takeaway of food, shops for repair of trucks located on National and State highways, Services provided by self-employed persons (electrician, repairs plumbers motor mechanics and carpenters. are permitted to operate.

Construction works in rural areas and only in-situ construction works in urban areas with only in-situ workers which shall include labourers, supervisors, contractor, etc, working in the construction side coming from their residence within the same District is allowed.

The District Magistrate also stated that commercial activities that have submitted undertakings to the office of the District Magistrate shall open daily in East Jaintia Hills District with effect from  1^st June, 2020 to 8^th  June, 2020 until further orders from 9.00 AM to 4.00 PM for 5(five) days of the week from Monday to Friday. These activities include food processing units in rural area including rice mills and mustard oil processing, Brick Kilns, Industrial units, Cement plants (only 50% capacity), mining of Limestone and boulders by lease-holder for domestic sale in the state or country. Export outside the country is permitted only through automated elevated convey or belt with no human intervention, quarrying of chips and aggregated including their transportation,

Permission has also been given for operation of all agriculture and allied sectors activities like farming operations include livestock farming Poultry Fishery and hatcheries collection, processing and distribution of milk and milk product, procurement and marketing of agriculture produce, custom Hiring  centres, cold  storage and warehouses, manufacturing packaging and distribution of agriculture inputs, seed, animal feed and fodder movement of harvesting and  sowing related machines and implements. Operation of tea Industry including plantation for production processing packaging and marketing is also allowed. For transportation of all agriculture products permission for transit and routes involved to be obtained from the District Magistrate, without fail.

MGNREGA works are also allowed with strict implementation of social distancing and wearing face mask.

The District Magistrate also said that 50% of private and public transport will operate in East Jaintia Hills District. Tea stalls is only allowed to be open in Rural Areas barring those along the National Highway, any tea stall found violating social distancing norms shall be closed. Further, Operation of Private Office Establishment with 33% employee strength and non- contact sports excluding gymnasiums are also permitted are also allowed.

The operation of permitted services, agricultural, industrial and commercial activities shall strictly adhere to the prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Government and mandatory compliance to the Advisories of Health & Family Welfare Department, without fail.

The Local Headman in coordination with District Police will regulate the operation of the shops, services  and commercial establishments in their respective localities and villages and also to ensure due compliance to the Advisories of Government in the Health & Family Welfare Department with special and strict reference to Social Distancing concerning the COVID-19 situation.

In addition, the public are requested to strictly, maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, not to overcrowd in one area or shop, to wear mask and not to spit in public places. The public should cooperate with the arrangement made by the District Administration, District police and the Local Headman.

The District Magistrate also informed that similar arrangement will be made for the days to come and specific instruction will be suitably published well in advance. He also mentioned that adequate stock is available and there is no need to panic and resort to hoarding as it will have an adverse impact.