Himachal to relax curfew for 4 hours, morning walks allowed

Shimla : The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to relax the curfew hours from 5.30 am to 7 am daily from Monday onwards to facilitate the senior citizens and general public for morning walks. 

This was disclosed by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in a meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Chief Medical Officers through video conference in the wake of corona pandemic from here today.

The state government has also decided to give relaxation in curfew for four hours instead of the existing three hours. This would not only ensure social distancing but also minimum crowding in the shops.

The Chief Minister said the curfew has adversely affected the economy of the State and thus it was vital to chalk out an appropriate action plan to revive the economic activities post lockdown from 3 May onwards.

All possible help would be provided to the people stranded outside the State. He said it must be ensured that the people willing to come back to the State must be facilitated but at the same time, it must be ensured that once they enter the State, they should be medically examined thoroughly and kept in institutional or home quarantine, as the situation demands.  

He said that all the Gram Panchayats must be provided information regarding such persons and they must be asked to ensure that the concerned person do not jump the quarantine.

He said that the students of the State who are coming back from other states should also be medically examined and kept in home quarantine. Similarly, the people of other states stranded in Himachal Pradesh must also be facilitated to go to their respective States.

Jai Ram Thakur said the concerned Deputy Commissioners must also ensure all the private hospitals and clinics in their jurisdictions function smoothly. For this, they should not be forced to have a curfew pass but even the identity card of the head of such institutions must be honoured.

The state government has decided to allow inter-district movement of trucks carrying construction material from mining sites to project areas. The government has also allowed inter-district movement of road construction machinery to the construction sites.

Deputy Commissioners have been directed to allow movement of concerned field staff of the Public Works Department to the construction sites. Works under MNREGA must be allowed by maintaining social distancing.