Shah asks officials to keep a watch on hoarders, take ‘swift & quick’ action in such cases

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 7

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held an elaborate review meeting on the status of lockdown measures, including issues relating to security and supply of essential commodities in the country.

Sharing the details of the meeting, Join Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Punya Salila said the home minister directed the officials to ensure “with the cooperation of the state governments” that there should be no hoarding of essential items, including food and medical supplies.

“The home minister asked the officials to take swift and strict action against hoarders in any parts of the country,” Srivastava said, while giving lockdown updates from the MHA at the daily media briefing.

The MHA official said the movement of pharmaceuticals by trucks has been largely stabilised and 152 lifeline flights, initiated by Ministry of Civil Aviation have transported over 200 tonnes of cargo till April 6.

Noting that there would be several festivals in the coming week, Srivatava said, community leaders have been roped in and also many of them have come forward to impress upon their fellow members to follow the government directives during this period of lockdown.

“All of them are convincing their respective community members to assist the government in strictly implementing the lockdown,” she said, adding that it would not be advisable to come out of home and gather to celebrate the festivals.

Shah, however, told the officials that places where public have a tendency to gather in large numbers such as religious centres should be closely monitored and any such gatherings should be prevented, sources close to the meeting said.

It is also learnt from them that officials briefed the home minister about pan-India availability of essential commodities and cases of shortage have not been reported from anywhere in the country.

On this the home minister expressed satisfaction and asked them to continuously keep a track of the movement of goods.