Newmai News Network
Shillong | March 23
A five-day lockdown has been declared in Meghalaya as a step to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).
While informing that no case of coronavirus has been found in Meghalaya so far, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said, “As a preventive measure, the State Government has decided to put the entire state under lock down for five days.”
“We called this a ‘self imposed lockdown’ which will first start from Monday at 10 pm and continue till 5 am of March 26," the Deputy Chief Minister said. Tynsong then added that the lockdown would again become effective on March 27, 28 and 29.
"We have decided to relieve the people of the state on March 26 to buy essential items and we will create more markets in Shillong and its outskirts,” Tynsong said while declaring the five-day lockdown.
Informing that there is no shortage of essential items, Tynsong said that arrangements will be made for distribution of essential groceries to local stores in the localities.
During this time, Government offices will function with an overall strength of 30 per cent.
Tynsong then said that Ïewduh, the main market in the state capital Shillong will be closed during the lockdown period but on March 26, there will be temporary markets for selling vegetables, and meat at Anjalee point to Cantonment police beat house, and other places like Lad Smit, Madan Umdiengpun at 7th Mile, Upper Shillong and Mawlai area, besides the Polo area.
Tynsong said that the order on "total lockdown" will not be applicable to security forces and medical teams on duty, pharmacies and all essential services like health, power (MeECL), PHE, PWD, police and armed forces, fire and emergency services, food and civil supply, Shillong Municipal Board, telecom, telegraph and IT services, banks and ATMs. These vehicles however should be clearly marked by stickers indicating the department they are associated with and ‘On Essential Duty’.
All other government officials on duty are also allowed to use their private vehicles during the lockdown which should have a sticker clearly indicating the department to which they belong followed by ‘On Government Duty’.
He said that banks will function with restrictions mostly in transactions related to cash deposits and withdrawals everyday from 10 am to 2 pm, adding that banks should strictly follow social distancing and sanitise offices and rooms where ATM machines are installed.
Informing that sufficient essential commodities will be available in all district headquarters, Tynsong said that movement of vehicles ferrying essential commodities, security forces, medical equipments and goods vehicles are also exempted from the lockdown.
However drivers and attendants of the vehicles shall be subject to medical screening as per the laid down protocols.
Tynsong also expressed his gratitude to the people of the state including various religious groups and organisations for cooperating with the government and sought their further cooperation in the days to come. He also urged them to be responsible by adopting measures that prevent the spread of the virus.
Odd-even formula for pvt vehicles, taxis
During the lockdown period, Tynsong informed that inter-district private transport will be closed, but movement of private vehicles in Shillong will be restricted to odd and even numbers on alternate days.
On March 24, 26, and 28, private vehicles with ‘odd numbers’ can ply while vehicles with ‘even numbers’ will ply on March 25, 27 and 29.
The Meghalaya government has also banned entry of people from outside the state as well as operation of inter-state public transport like buses, and tourist taxis till March 31.
On March 26, local taxis with even numbers of series ML05-B to ML05-K, and auto rickshaws with even numbers of series ML05 C 0390 to ML05 C 8332 will ply in East Khasi Hills district.
