Punjab Govt clamps statewide curfew to curb spread

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered state-wide curfew with no relaxations, making Punjab the first state to resort to this extreme and exceptional measure in the battle against Covid.

Warning strict action against any violation of the curfew imposed in the larger public interest, the Chief Minister appealed to the people to voluntarily adhere to the decision to tackle the prevailing war-like situation

After reviewing the situation with Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and DGP Dinkar Gupta, the Chief Minister announced the curfew this morning. “The DCs have been asked to issue orders accordingly. Any person required to be given relaxation will be so allowed specifically for given period and purpose,” the CM said.

Making it clear that the curfew would be continuous, spanning 24 hours a day, the Chief Minister said only those with emergent needs would be allowed to go out, after taking due permission from their respective DCs, whose mobile numbers would be shared with the public.

Even for essential services like chemists, doctors and shops selling daily use essential items, specific permission would have to be sought from the DCs.

In a video message, the Chief Minister said he was forced to take this extreme step “in the interest of the state and its people”, as he had received reports that people were moving around normally in towns, mohallas and cities despite lockdown that became effective this morning.

The orders came with a slew of relief measures to support the affected masses as a result of the unprecedented restrictions. These included free food, shelter and medicines for those in need, with Rs20 crore sanctioned out of the CM’s relief fund for the same and DCs and SDMs asked to extend all assistance to those in need. The Chief Minister also announced to defer the payment of electricity, sewerage and water bills.

Giving details of relief measures announced by the state government, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said the local government department had been directed to defer the due date of making payment of water and sewerage bills by one month, besides extending the amnesty scheme on property tax till May 31.

Likewise, the due date for payment of domestic, commercial and small power industrial consumers having monthly/bimonthly electricity bills up to Rs10,000, which falls on or after March 20 has been extended up to April 15. The PSPCL has been asked not to recover the late payment surcharge from these nearly 35 lakh consumers.

The Transport Department has been asked to extend the due date of all taxes under the Punjab Motor vehicle Taxation Act up to April 30. Stage and contract carriage vehicles would be given 100 per cent exemption from the Motor Vehicle Tax for the period in which these are not allowed to ply.

The Cooperation Department has decided to waive penal interest on crop loan for two months (March-April). Consequent upon this decision, farmers can now repay their crop loans till April 30.

The CM has ordered release of pensions amounting to Rs150 crore for March immediately.

The Labour Department has already decided to provide a financial assistance of Rs3,000 to 3,18,000 registered construction workers through DBT in their bank accounts.

Lockdown violations led to curfew

• Refusal by suspected patients to adhere to quarantine guidelines forced the state to go for curfew
• There were reports that people who were stamped quarantine were roaming freely
• Sources say the authorities were initially reluctant to impose curfew, but lockdown violations increased the risk
• Besides, the free run of 70-year-old Nawanshahr victim has sent shock waves among the authorities
• Before succumbing to the deadly virus, the victim had attended Hola Mohalla, where around five lakh people were gathered

Relief measures

• DCs empowered to give relaxation only for specific purposes/period
• Rs20 cr sanctioned from CM fund for free food, shelter, medicines
• Deadline for power, water, sewerage bills deferred
• Waiver of penal interest on crop loan for two months
• Financial aid of Rs3,000 to 3.18 lakh registered construction workers

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