In light of ongoing curfew in Chandigarh, Chandigarh administration on Tuesday decided that some essential items will be supplied to residents door to door so that inconvenience is reduced as much as possible. As per Adviser to the UT Administrator Manoj Parida, they want people to stay indoors. Since there is sufficient stock of ration, vegetables, medicines, etc., so there was no need to worry at all.
As part of the food delivery plan, Adviser to the UT Administrator Manoj Parida announced the following:
- Milk and newspapers: It was assured that milk supply and newspapers will be provided to each house every morning throughout the curfew period.
- Medicines: Senior citizens without assistance at homes will be provided medicines. Medicines are available on call on these contact numbers: 9815272650, 9814055034 and 9876537241 (10:00 am to 07:00 pm). A provision to keep all chemist shops open in the city throughout the curfew duration, has also been assured.
- Relaxation: He directed the police to give relaxation only on humanitarian grounds and on case-by-case basis to those for urgent medical work, wherever required.
- Points for organizing home delivery: Door-to-door delivery will be initiated from the grocery store, vegetable and fruit shop, and medical store of sector markets.
- Delivery to periphery areas: Packed ration, vegetables, fruits, etc. will be provided here using mobile vans at fixed prices.
- 2-months ration money: The Governor of Punjab and Administartor, thanked the Prime Minister for coming to a decision quickly of giving two months ration money to people. The Chandigarh administration has released the food subsidy for the months of April and May. This has been credited in the accounts of registered beneficiaries of the city.
Upon the personal intervention of the Governor himself following a request of the city administration, the central government took the action.
- No unnecessary crowd: He ordered the authorities to maintain strictness during curfew and ensure there is no congestion or unnecessary crowd anywhere on the roads.
- On duty government employees: On production of official ID cards, government employees tasked with emergency and essential services were allowed to attend their duties. Those working in the neighbouring states at banks, news agencies, or other officials will not suffer while police checking at the time of curfew.
- Inter-state travel: Panchkula and Mohali authorities decided to maintain coordination. This will be in the benefit of those coming from or going out of Chandigarh.
- Issue of passes: Both the state authorities will respect the directions of the Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner relating to passes and identity cards, and vice versa. They will ensure that there are no problems to the health staff, police, chemists, etc. Important supply chains will be maintained.
Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT Chandigarh VP Singh Badnore presided over this review meeting through video-conferencing. It was attended by Adviser Manoj Parida, Home Secretary Arun Gupta, Finance Secretary AK Sinha, and Municipal Corporation Commissioner DGP Sanjay Beniwal, all three Deputy Commissioners and SSPs. Also, present were senior officers of tricity. They reviewed the situation of the curfew period.
Meanwhile, city residents kept to their homes as the curfew came into force on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. Police officials in large numbers were on duty to implement the orders.
As per an order issued by Chandigarh’s Home Department, keeping in view the emergencies due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the cricket stadium in sector 16 and the sports complex in Manimajra have been declared as temporary jails till prohibitory orders remain in place.
News Source: The Tribune
Image Source: Google Images