COVID-19: Face 21 day quarantine for entering JK without permission: Govt
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday warned all those who may try to enter the UT without permission from the authorities. The government warned them of 21 day quarantine at Lakhnpur in case anybody tries to sneak in.
Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam Saturday held video conference interaction with the Deputy Commissioners to discuss the action plan for allowing students and migrant labour stranded in different parts of the country.
The Government has initiated the process of bringing back students and labour who had stuck in various states due to lockdown in a very controlled and regulated manner.
While deliberating on the issue, it was informed that in the first phase, the students and migrant labour from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh will be allowed and then the process will be initiated for students/migrant labour stuck in rest of the States.
Chief Secretary said that standard protocols for receiving such people have been developed and guidelines have also been issued in this regard. “All those who will enter the UT without prior permission will be compulsorily sent to institutional quarantine in Lakhanpur, Kathua for 21 days”, the Chief Secretary emphasized.
Keeping in view the risk of transmission of the virus, it was decided that 100 % testing of all such people will be done to ensure their and others’ safety. All the Deputy Commissioners were asked to coordinate with the Health Department so that medical teams are deployed for the collection of samples.
It will be a difficult task for everyone, so coordinated efforts are required from all, the Chief Secretary said adding that Nodal Officers have been appointed by the UT Government for ensuring smooth entry and movement of people.
Chief Secretary also reviewed quarantine facilities in the districts and directed the DCs to create additional quarantine facilities at the village level by utilizing all available infrastructures and involving panchayat members. Sarpanches and Anganwadi workers should be involved in ensuring effective implementation of quarantine at such facilities, he added.
Meanwhile, the divisional Administration has taken a strong note of passes being issued by authorities other than the office of Divisional Commissioner and concerned Deputy Commissioners.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir has said that only those movement passes are valid which have been issued by the designated authorities. He has cautioned that action will be taken under relevant provisions of law against those who will be found moving with the passes issued by officers other than the designated authorities.
He reiterated that as per the order issued by the Government in this regard, only the Deputy Commissioners and Divisional Commissioner have been empowered to issue passes for permissible activities to regulate inter-district, inter-province, inter-state travel and movement within the UT.
The Banks have been asked to operate with 33% staff and check unnecessary movement of other bank employees on the pretext of attending duties. All Government and private offices have been advised to adhere to the SOP and guidelines issued by the Government while performing their duties.
The law enforcing authorities have been asked to check the authenticity of the passes issued and to book any person found moving with fictitious pass, under the relevant provisions of law and seize his/her vehicle.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has ordered that movement into and out of Srinagar from and to other districts will not be allowed expect on production of a valid inter-district movement pass.
The decision to regulate the inter-district movement of people including pedestrian and vehicular has been taken in view of a large number of persons including officials and essential services providers coming into Srinagar on a regular basis and instances of serious violations of the SOPs as laid down for COVID-19 red zones.
The regulation of inter-district movement as has been ordered is in line with the advice guiding management of red zone areas with most of these movements being linked to red zones in other districts.
The passes for movement into and out of Srinagar from and to other districts must also indicate in clear terms the date of issuance and validity thereof.
The order will come into force from May 4. It should be noted that those without valid movement passes will not be allowed to move into Srinagar district.
KV News
