Badnore defends Chandigarh decision

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28

Defending the decision to open shops from 10 am to 6pm, UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore said after the imposition of curfew, the Administration had put in massive efforts to maintain the supply chain of essential items, including milk, vegetables, groceries, medicines, etc, but it achieved limited success.

He stated that after the appeal of the Prime Minister for lockdown, a majority of states/UTs in the country had gone for the lockdown option during which the establishments for essential items have been kept open. Only in Chandigarh and Punjab, a decision was taken to impose total curfew which also resulted in the closure of all establishments including that of essential Items.

Badnore said a large number of complaints were received about the unavailability of essential items, their quality, high prices, short duration of stay of mobile vendors, etc. There were also complaints from periphery areas and villages about the people going without food due to absence of rations and medicines.

He consulted the senior officials of the Administration, including medical experts, who stated that if the same social distancing is being observed by people near the CTU buses, then the same can be ensured at the shops in their respective markets. It was felt that it would be easier to ensure and regulate social distancing in three or four shops that would be opened in respective sector markets which are more spread out.

The DGP also stated that nowhere in the country any curfew could be sustained for more than three days without giving relaxations.

If such relaxations are not given, then it might result in law an dorder issues, he said.

It was also felt that with opening of establishments of essential commodities, as per the order of Government of India, not only the back-end supply chains of the essential commodities will be maintained, it would also lead to better prices.

The Administrator mentioned that he initially considered about giving relaxation for a limited period, but it was felt that such a process would lead to panic hoarding by consumers and objective of social distancing would be defeated.

Moreover, the Home Ministry, Government of India, has given clear directions to all states/ UTs to keep essential establishments open and hence, Chandigarh was only following the pattern as per the rest of the country, he added.

Badnore also said he had set up a Corona War Room in his office at UT Secretariat from where he would monitor the situation everyday through feedback from senior officers. He said through regular coordination and video-conferencing with Panchkula and Mohali district authorities, many of the tricity problems, including intercity movement, has been solved.

Mobile teams of docs

Badnore has directed the Director, Health Services, to form mobile teams of doctors that will find residents with symptoms of Covid-19. He has appealed to the media, resident welfare association and residents to give feedback and report about the people who have returned from abroad and have not informed the authorities or those who are not intimating about their illness, if any.

The Administrator also stated that langar and mass-feeding of people by the charitable trusts will be allowed. However, social distancing will be enforced. He also directed the Adviser to ensure door delivery of essential items to senior citizens, who could not go to market for direct purchases.

Matter discussed with PGI Director

Badnore said the Director, PGIMER, also confirmed that with proper social distancing, corona infection would be restricted, even if the essential establishments remain open as per the Government of India guidelines. Further decision regarding opening or closing of shops of essential items will be taken in due course depending upon the crowd behavior and compliance of social distancing by the residents.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.