Follow Guidelines On Lockdown Measures Strictly, Union Home Secy Reminds States/UTs

New Delhi: Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to the chief secretary of all states and Union Territories, urging them to ensure that guidelines on lockdown measures are strictly followed all over the country.

“It has come to the notice of the Home Ministry that in some parts of the country, guidelines and clarifications are not being implemented in letter and spirit. Specifically, (i) trucks carrying essential and non-essential goods are being detained; (ii) workers needed for operation of manufacturing units of essential goods, and other exempted categories are not getting authorizations/ passes for their movement; (iii) inter State movement of goods and personnel related to categories (i) & (ii) above is getting impeded as passes/ authorizations issued by authorities of one State/ UT Government are not being respected by the authorities of other States/ UTs,” writes Bhalla.

These restrictions have the “potential of creating shortages” of essential commodities.

Following are some of the salient points reiterated by Bhalla to bring in clarity at the implementation level:

* Inter-state and intra-state movement of all trucks and other goods/carrier vehicles with one driver and one additional person is allowed as long as the driver is carrying a valid driver’s licence. This is irrespective of the nature of the cargo, whether essential or otherwise. No further permit or approval would be required.

* Empty trucks/goods carriers should also be allowed to operate while on way to pick up goods, or returning after completing a delivery. Hence, there is no cause to stop empty trucks provided they have valid documents such as driving license & road permit etc.

* Local authorities should actively facilitate the movement of truck drivers and cleaners from their place of residence to location of their trucks.

* Local authorities should facilitate the easy to and fro movement of workers to workplace and back, in respect of all the permitted industrial/ commercial activities.

* MSMEs engaged in the manufacture of essential items like wheat flour (atta), pulses (dal) and edible oils should be allowed to function freely, without any hindrance.