Govt offices shut till, April 14, Panchayats to identify ‘suspects’

TNN Bureau. Updated: 3/26/2020 11:54:15 AM Front Page

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the closure of all government offices, excluding those providing essential services, till April 14 in the union territory even as it decided to involve Panchayats, local bodies, lambardars and chowkidars to trace and report the people having foreign travel history.
To ensure smooth movement of trucks on National Highway carrying essential commodities, two check points will be established each in Jammu and Kashmir division while in order to restrict the unnecessary movement of people, the government also decided that all inter district movement of people and vehicles will remain suspended during the period expect transportation for essential goods and RTC buses having valid passes issued by the authorities.
While the prime minister announced the countrywide lockdown on Tuesday evening, the union territory administration had on Sunday imposed similar restrictions till March 31 as part of its efforts to combat the coronavirus threat.
The Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam today convened a high level meeting to review the preparedness and measures put in place in the wake of nationwide lockdown.
“All government offices, except District Administration, Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management, Electricity, Water, Sanitation, Treasury and other essential services, will remain closed till 14th April,” the meeting decided.
It was informed that Treasuries will remain functional to ensure smooth closing of the financial year on 31st March.
During the meeting, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education gave a brief detail of measures already put in place by the health department for control, prevention and management of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.
After reviewing the preparedness of the health and other allied departments, it was decided that Panchayats, local bodies, lambardars and chowkidars will be involved to trace/report the people having foreign travel history.
The Chief Secretary directed for immediate tracing of such persons and putting them in mandatory 14 days quarantine period to avoid community transmission.
In order to ensure smooth movement of trucks on National Highway carrying essential commodities, two check points would be established each in Jammu and Kashmir division.
“In Jammu Division, the check points will be established at Lakhanpur and Jammu and in Kashmir Division at Qazigund and Srinagar. Passes shall be issued by designated authority to these trucks at identified points,” the CS directed.
To restrict the unnecessary movement of people, the meeting also decided that all inter district movement of people/vehicles will remain suspended during the period expect transportation for essential goods and RTC buses having valid passes issued by the authorities.
To avoid inconvenience to the public at large, the DCs were asked to encourage and facilitate home delivery of ration, groceries, fruit, vegetables, dairies and animal products to minimize the movement of individuals outside their homes.
During the meeting, the DGP also briefed about the preparations, measures being taken by various wings and units of police force with regard to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chief Secretary directed that all Police Stations, Offices, Barracks must be sanitized, and fumigated. He also said all the precautions must be taken and there should not be any loop holes or gaps left in our fight against this pandemic.
Highlighting the need for maintaining social distancing, the Chief Secretary also directed all HoDs to ensure attendance of only minimal staff to carry all important works assigned to them. To facilitate the movement of staff of essential services and to those having medical exigency, the Chief Secretary directed DCs to issue movement passes to such people only after proper verification.
The Deputy Commissioners were further directed to fully activate the control rooms established in their respective districts and publicize contact numbers so that people can reach with their queries to these centres. The Deputy Commissioners were directed to ensure strict implementation of lockdown orders on ground. The Divisional Commissioners were directed to closely monitor and supervise all efforts related to control of Coronavirus being undertaken by all DCs in their respective divisions.
Deputy Commissioners were directed to judiciously utilize funds provided to them under SDRF immediately.


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