R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAY 9
The Tamil Nadu government has further easing curbs in non-containment zones with riders like social distancing, allowing private sector firms to resume work with 33 per cent work force and also permitted reopening of tea stalls to offer take away services from Monday (May 11), according to a release from the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday.
பெருநகர சென்னை காவல் துறையின் எல்லைக்குட்பட்ட பகுதிகள் மற்றும் தமிழ்நாட்டின் பிற மாவட்டங்களில், (நோய்க் கட்டுப்பாட்டு பகுதிகள் தவிர) பல்வேறு வரைமுறைகளுடன் கீழ்க்காணும் பணிகள் 11.5.2020 முதல் குறிப்பிடப்பட்ட நேரத்தில் செயல்பட அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. #TNGovt #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/2lXlsEIcX7
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) May 9, 2020
The government also extended the timings for groceries and vegetable shops till 7 pm, effective Monday, throughout Tamil Nadu. These outlets can start work from 6 am as usual.
As regards standalone and neighbourhood shops in Chennai, they can function from 10.30 am till 6 pm as against the present cut off time of 5 pm, the release said.
In all other parts of the state, these categories of shops can be open between 10 am and 7 pm.
In Chennai city and suburbs, all private sector companies can resume work and operate between 10.30 am and 6 pm.
In the rest of Tamil Nadu, the firms can work from 10 am to 7 pm.
However, the workforce shall be confined to 33 per cent of the strength, the government said.
As regards tea stalls, the government said they can work from 6 am to 7 pm. However, only take away services are allowed and people cannot congregate in the shops and social distancing must be maintained.
The outlets should be sanitised five times a day and to avoid crowding, people must not be allowed to consume beverages inside the shops.
“If the norms are not followed the tea shops will be closed down immediately,” the government said.
Petrol pumps in Chennai can work between 6 am and 6 pm and in rest of Tamil Nadu from 6 am till 8 pm, and 24 x 7 in national and state highways.
District Collectors, top officials of civic bodies and the police department have been asked to ensure compliance of norms like individual distancing, sanitisation and full adherence to Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs).
SOP includes maintaining individual distancing, carrying out disinfection work and trimming the workforce to 33 per cent to ensure a safe work ambience for employees, the release added.
On April 23, the Tamil Nadu government had allowed rural employment guarantee tasks tied to irrigation and construction in non-containment zones of rural areas.
It permitted functioning of State and Central government offices for maintenance of essential services with attendance not exceeding 33 per cent of the total staff strength.
