Government on Sunday extended shutdown of all establishments in Jammu and Kashmir except essential services till March 31 to block the spread of Covid-19.
After reviewing the situation today, Chief Secretary BVRSubrahmanyum directed all the District Magistrates in the Union Territory toensure shutdown of all establishments except those providing essentialcommodities and services in their districts from March 22 till March 31.
“The Deputy Commissioners will issue orders under Section144 CrPC and also under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to shutdown all theestablishments except essential commodities in their respective districtskeeping in view importance of enforcing social distancing i.e. minimizing closecontact between people,” the order said.
The department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairshas already issued a list of essential commodities and all the goods vehiclesincluding those carrying essential items will be allowed to ply with properpermits or passes issued by the concerned District Administration.
In this regard, the District Administrations will makenecessary arrangement for persons engaged in providing essential services totravel without hindrance to their place of work.
“The Deputy Commissioners will also restrict all theassemblies at public places to no more than three persons,” the Chief Secretaryordered.
The Deputy Commissioners were directed to ensure strictimplementation of these instructions with immediate effect, and DivisionalCommissioners of both Jammu as well as of Kashmir will monitor compliance ofthe directions.
Earlier, the Government ordered closing all the Governmentoffices till March 25. “Government declares holiday in all the offices onTuesday (March 24), Monday (March 23) and Wednesday (March 25) alreadyholidays,” Government spokesperson Rohit Kansal wrote on twitter.
This order was issued after the Government employees workingin different field offices across Jammu and Kashmir were under distressfollowing the outbreak of the coronovirus.
“We work in field without any safety measure, and people inlarge number continue to come to our offices and meet us. We do not know thetravel history of those people,” said a senior officer, wishing not to bequoted.
The officer said that the Heads of the Departments haverestricted entries in their respective departments, while lower level employeesand even field officers were vulnerable.
“The decision of the Government has come as a relief for theemployees, officers and their families,” added the officer.