R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MARCH 26
The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday announced the extension of the statewide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus till April 14, coinciding with the 21-day national lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The lockdown, announced by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palainswami on Monday as part of the government’s measures to tackle COVID-19, was originally scheduled to be in force till March 31, 2020.
“The lockdown and related orders announced till March 31 are being extended till April 14,” an official release from DIPR said.
கொரோனா தொற்றின் தீவிரத்தை உணர்ந்தும், சமுதாய பொறுப்புணர்ந்தும் நம் தமிழக மக்கள் சமூக இடைவெளியை கடைபிடிப்பது வரவேற்கத்தக்கது.
அனைவரும் இதனை பின்பற்றிட கேட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன்.#SocialDistancing #TamilNadu #Corona pic.twitter.com/tunPKZZlt4
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) March 26, 2020
The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister with various department heads and district collectors to discuss the steps taken to tackle the spread of the virus over video-conference, the release said.
To implement the lockdown, section 144 of Cr.Pc. was issued. It prohibits assembly of more than five persons.
தனியார் வங்கிகள், சிறிய நிதி நிறுவனங்கள் சுய உதவி குழுக்கள் ஆகியவை தினசரி/வராந்திர/ மாதவட்டி மற்றும் அசலை வசூல் செய்கின்றன.
தற்போது ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவினால் யாரும் வேலைக்கு செல்ல இயலாததால், இது போன்ற பணவசூலை உடனடியாக மறு உத்தரவு வரும் வரை நிறுத்தி வைக்க உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. #Corona
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) March 26, 2020
The Chief Minister also ordered private banks, private financial institutions, and financiers and SHGs to stop collecting daily/weekly/monthly interest from parties until further orders. Violation of this order will attract criminal action, the Chief Minister warned.
Forms nine teams to be headed by senior of IAS Officials
Nine teams of IAS officials formed to monitor ensuring essential services and essential things such as milk, water, groceries, etc to people without any hitch.
The Chief Minister also ordered the vegetable shops and markets to arrange for the people to ensure social distancing as laid down by the authorities.
Spraying disinfectant in important places such as slum areas, places of worship and where people congregate in large numbers, etc.
The Chief Minister instructed the officials to create awareness among the people keep within their residences to combat the virus through various modes such as tom tom, distribution of pamphlets and public address systems, etc.
To ensure the free flow of transporting essential commodities, a helpline will be established in all the Corporations and also at the District Collectorates.
Instructions were also given to all the Personal Assistant to Collectors (PAGs) to issue vehicle passes/Identity Cards for those involved in essential services and also for private vehicles that are deployed for essential services.
E-Commerce companies are allowed to deliver dry goods to the customers at their doorsteps, however, the ban imposed for food items through Swiggy, Zamoto, and other companies will stay, the release further said.
Village Administrative Officers are empowered to issue permission for transporting vegetables, fruits and eggs to the farmers.
However, farmers are allowed to take farm equipment and take their yield to the procurement centres. if any farmers facing difficulty in moving their produce or equipment they can directly call the Police Control room at 044 28447701 and 044 28447703.
Orders have also been to issue tablets and other medicine for two months to pregnant women, diabetes patients, and senior citizens. In case of any emergency, they can call 108 ambulance services.
A list of 55,000 people, who have returned from foreign countries has been handed over to the concerned district collectors. It is for the collectors to ensure uninterrupted essential reaching the quarantined families. It is for the concerned district administrations and police to monitor the quarantine families, if they violate, criminal action would be initiated against them, says a 9-page statement.
Pathways at Koyambedu market cleared of clutter to promote social distancing
Meanwhile, changes have been brought in the functioning of the Koyambedu market. The operational hours and even short closures for cleaning operations are only to be expected.
On all the three sections in the market, dedicated to the sale of three categories of perishable items: flowers, fruits and vegetables, at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market complex, pathways have been freed of clutter and made wider so that visitors, who are mostly small traders, can practise a form of social distancing, an official said.
