West Jaintia Hills imposes prohibitory orders to ensure social distancing

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 12, 2020

To take stringent steps to ensure social distancing so the pandemic of COVID-19 does not spread to West Jaintia Hills District and Meghalaya by way of ensuring observance of strict protocols of the Advisories issued by Government of Meghalaya in the Health & Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate, West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai in an ordered issued on 11th  May, 2020 has under Section 144 CrPC issued prohibitory order in the entire of West Jaintia Hills District with effect from 12th May, 2020 until further Orders for timing between 6.00 AM to 7.00 PM each day.

Assembly or gathering of 4 (four) or more persons in public area and premises beyond theIndividual households.
Operation of public and private transport.
Operation of all market place, Malls, Restaurants, Tea Stalls and Hospitality Services.
Religious congregations.
Movement of person within the District.
Inter- District and Inter- State movement of persons.
Operation of tourist spots, Gyms and Playground.
Indulging in or resorting to, the act of poisoning and use of dynamite in rivers, streams or any other water bodies with the explicit or implicit intention to cause wide spread or large scale destruction of aquatic Iife within the District.

The Order is not applicable to:
Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) and Medical Clinics with Social Distancing norms and other safety precautions.
Security Forces.
Medical Teams on duty,
Wholesale & Retail Pharmacies.
Police and Armed Forces.
Fire d Emergency Service.
MeECL and Power Grid.
Food & Civil Supplies Department and FCI.
Jowai Municipal Board.
Telecom, Communications &IT Services and Common Service Centre (CSC).
Print and Electronic Media.
Government Officials on Duty.
Banks & Treasuries.
PHE AH & Veterinary, Agriculture & Horticulture, C&RD and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).

The order has allowed all Fair Price Shops under NFSA and NON-NFSA will open every day from 12th May, 2020 from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM.

Movement of persons within the District for the activities permitted with car passes and with prior due intimation to the Chief Executive Officer, Jowai Municipal Board and to Additional Deputy Commissioner incharge Amlarem (Civil) Sub-Division, Amlarem and Block Development Officers C&KD Block Thadlaskein and Laskein Blocks.

Inter-District movement of people with Inter District TRANSIT PASS and due intimation to Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District,

Inter-State movement of the people with Inter State TRANSIT PASS issued by the Deputy Commissioner.

Commercial and private establishments, as listed below:

Shops dealing in Essential Goods and other standalone (single shop) identified by Headman of concerned localities to open. Wholesale on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM and Retail on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM.

Operation of Courier services and e-commerce for essential goods, service provide by self-employed persons e.g Electrician, IT repair, Plumber, Motor Mechanics and Carpenters within their individual households and workshops.

Workshops for repair of trucks on highways and maintenance of vehicles in rural areas identified by Headmen of the area and workshop’s for maintenance or vehicles within Jowai Municipal area identified by the District Transport Officer, Jowai, Standalone automobiles repairing shops for repairing works of vehicles and Mobile car repairing services.

Identified Hardware stores of concerned localities for providing items like CGl Sheets, cement etc for construction used including transportation on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9.00 Am o 5.00 Pm,

Electrical Shops on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.00 AM to 5.00 Pm.

Package drinking water and juices identified by the respective Headmen.

Shops that sell, repair and service Mobile Phones, Computer, accessories as well as mobile phone recharging and Home delivery of books. Identified Stationery shops wholesale Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and retailers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.00 Am to 5.00 Pm.

The Lay bye market at Ialong is allowed to open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.00 Am to 5.00 Pm.

Dry Fish or processed fish including tungtap and smoke fish identified by Headmen wholesale on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and Retail on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Industries/ Industrial Establishments (Both Government and Private) as listed below:

Food processing industries in rural areas outside the limits of Municipal Corporations and municipalities including rice mills, and mustard oil.

Bricks Kilns in Rural areas outside the limits of Municipal Corporations and municipalities.

Industrial Units as identified by General Manager, District Commerce & Industries Centre, Jowai.

Mining of limestone and boulder by lease holders for domestic sale within the State or the country, export outside the country is permitted only through automated, elevated conveyor belt with no human intervention.

Quarrying of chips, aggregated and sand extraction from legal sources (under MMMCR 2016) and crushed in approved stone crusher unit re allowed for transportation for construction works within the District with PASSES to be issued by the Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) Wes Jaintia Hills District, Jowai.
The above permission for commencement of operations is subject to adherence to guidelines of MHA to be checked and certified by Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District. All those who wish to commence industrial/mining/quarrying activities should submit an undertaking to the Deputy Commissioner confirming adherence to guidelines of Ministry of Home Affairs and protocols issued by Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya before the commencement of operations. Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District shall ensure strict compliance to these guidelines through periodic inspection and submit reports to the concerned department and ensure SOPs for Social Distancing.

Construction Activities:
In urban Areas: only in situ construction (where workers are available from within the locality and no workers are required to be brought from outside) and renewable energy projects.
The above permission for commencement of operations is subject to adherence to guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to be checked and certified by the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District. All those who wish to commence construction activities should submit an undertaking to the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District confirming adherence to the guidelines MHA and protocols issued by the Health Family Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya before commencement of operation. Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District shall ensure strict compliance to these guidelines through periodic inspection and submit reports to the concerned departments and ensure tha SOPs for social distancing as per MHA orders are in places and follow.

In Rural Areas: All contruction activities.

All agriculture and allied sectors activities like farming operations including livestock farming, Poultry, Fishery and Hatcheries, collection, processing and distribution of milk and milk products, mandis by APMC procurement and marketing of agricultural produce, cold storage and warehouses. Manufacturing, packaging and distribution of agriculture inputs, seed, animal feed and fodder, movement of harvesting and sowing related machines.

Authorized Car Wash Units who have renewed Environment Clearance from Meghalaya State Pollution Control Broad, Shillong,

Manufacturing, Transportation and marketing of Agriculture and Horticulture Tools and implements e.g Spade, Dao, Basket, Watering Can, Khurpi, Spade Handle, Fork identified by District Agricultural Officer, Jowai and Tea industry including plantation with maximum 50% of workforce for production, processing and packaging and marketing are allowed to operate.

Transportaton of all agricultural products within the District with PASSES issued by Additional. Deputy Commissioner incharge Amlarem (Civil) Sub-division /Block Development Officers, C&RD Blocks Thadlaskein and Laskein Block.

Veterinary hospitals, Dispensaries, Clinics, sale and supply of medicines and vaccines, MNREGA works are allowed with strict implementation Social Distancing and wearing of face masks as per detail guidelines issued by C&RD Department.

All Medical Officers and Staff of Health Department with PASSES issued by DMHO Officer, Jowai, All Officers and staff working with Corona Care Centres and quarantine facilities, Government Employees of District Heads and other Essential Officers working on COVID-19 matters with passes issued by District Heads of Offices.

Movement or Vehicles carrying fodder and animal products with PASSES issued by the District AH & Veterinary Officer, Vehicles carrying fertilizer and Power Tillers with PASSES issued by the District, Water Tanker with PASSES issued by the Executive Engineer, PHE, Electrical Division.

Movement of Vehicles within the District carryıng Areca Nuts and Beetle Leave and carrying Broom Sticks with PASSES issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, in charge Amlarem (Civil) Sub-Division, Amlarem and Block, Vehicles carrying Essential Commodities, LPG Cylinders, Security Forces, Medical Equipment along the National Highway. However, Drivers and Attendants of the Vehicles shall be subject to medical screening as per laid protocol.

50 % Public Transport and 50 % of Non-Transport Vehicles (Private Vehicles) to operate within the District on rotation basis identified by the District transport Officer, West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai.

All public transport vehicles shall utilize only 50% seating capacity.

Schedule for both Pubic Transport vehicle and Non-transport vehicle (Private):
Monday, Wednesday and Friday Vehicle nos. ending with 0,2,4,6 and 8
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Vehicle nos, ending with 1,3,5,7, and 9
On Sunday No public transport or Non Transport vehicles will be allowed to ply without valid Passes.

In addition, the District Magistrate has instructed the public to strictly:

Maintain Social Distancing of at least I meter (6 ft).
Not to overcrowd in one area or shop.
To wear mask and not to spit in public places.
To cooperate with the arrangement made by the District Administration, District Police and Headman.

According to the order if there is violation offenders will be punished with fine as under Section 51(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.