CHANDIGARH, MARCH 29: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday ordered the concerned departments to take all possible steps to ensure uninterrupted and regular supply of essential commodities and services at the doorstep of the people across the state so that the people do not suffer any hardships in view of the statewide curfew clamped in the light of the COVID-19 crisis.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that on the directions of Captain Amarinder, the ACS Home has issued detailed guidelines to all the Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Range IGPs/CP/DIGs/SSPs etc to ensure strict compliance of these orders.
The guidelines clarify that to ensure sufficient and continuous supply of essential, commodities and services, the concerned establishments, including retail, wholesale, mandi warehousing and manufacturing, must be kept open only for home delivery. The supply of all foods and beverages, including fresh foods, fruits, vegetables eggs, poultry, meats etc., eateries, bakeries, food preparation, general stores, groceries, karyanas, pansaris etc., E-commerce, digital delivery, home delivery etc., LPG, Coal, Firewood and other fuels, would be ensured to the people in a seamless manner.
Establishments of retail, wholesale, warehousing, manufacturing etc. of medicines shall also remain open, besides chemists, doctors, hospitals (including OPDs), drug de-addiction centres, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, AYUSH practitioners, diagnostic laboratories etc, as per the detailed guidelines.
Besides, animal feed, poultry feed, veterinary medicines, veterinary hospitals, milk plants etc would remain functional. Similarly, seeds, pesticides, Insecticides, fertilizers, agriculture supplies, agriculture implements, harvester combines etc would also be made available amid COVID-19 restrictions.
Apart from these, Banks, ATMs, Cash Vans, Cash delivery, payment of wages by employers to workers shall not be interrupted, and supply of packaging, packing material, plastic bags, etc would also continue, as per the guidelines. The supply of Petroleum products would be made available and petrol pumps would also remain open.
To ensure the uninterrupted movement of goods across Punjab and to/from other states, all warehouses, godowns, cold stores, controlled atmosphere stores and all goods vehicles, including trucks, tempos etc. would be allowed to operate at all times.
However, all establishments that are permitted to remain open/operational shall strictly comply with the instructions issued from time to time by the Department of Health and Family Welfare with regard to precautionary measures, including social distancing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, said the spokesperson.
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