The Meghalaya government today decided to extend the lockdown in East Khasi Hills until the morning of June 7.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that the review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also decided that containment measures throughout the state will be in place until further orders.
“The government has entrusted the concerned Deputy Commissioners to impose restrictions in their respective districts and SDO (Sub-Divisional Officers) in their jurisdictions depending on the local situation,” Tynsong informed.
This means that East Khasi Hills will continue to remain under total lockdown but certain activities will be allowed.
Tynsong said that the government has asked the district administration to ensure the supply of essential commodities in the respective areas and localities, home delivery services is permitted with regulations, but inter-district movement of people from East Khasi Hills or into the district is restricted, central government offices and state government offices other than those notified by Personnel Department shall remain closed.
He also informed that the State Bank of India Main Branch, those branches in Laitumkhrah and the Secretariat will open on May 31 and June 1 with limited staff for government purposes only, while other banks will also be allowed to operate on these two days until 4pm with limited staff for urgent transactions only.
Post offices, meanwhile, will open on June 2-4 with limited staff.
The Deputy Chief Minister also informed that in-situ construction work of government projects that do not involve movement of people will be allowed with prior intimation to the DC. Such in-situ construction for private projects will also be allowed subject to approval from the district administration.
Tynsong also informed that farming activities in rural areas, including betel nut, betel leaf and broom cultivation, and implementation of rural guarantee scheme is exempted from the lockdown. Permitting these will help, to some degree, the rural communities to some extent.
Meanwhile, during the containment measures, political, social and religious gatherings are not allowed, entry of tourists is also not allowed and tourist spots shall remain closed. Inter-state movement of people is also restricted but this will not be applicable to vehicles in transit. Export activities will be allowed but regulating them has been entrusted to the respective DCs.
