By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
DEHRADUN, 25 Apr: Following the guidelines issued by the Government of India late last evening, the Uttarakhand Government has also taken some important decisions to open certain category of shops selling non-essential goods between 7 am till 6 pm in the 9 green zone districts. The relaxation has however not been extended to the 3 red zone districts namely Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital. The decision comes after a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today. No relaxation has been given to Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital districts and the present restrictions would continue for the time being. The government said that in coming days, some relaxation could be given in these districts as per the decision of the respective District Magistrates. The shops of only essential commodities would open between 7 am and 1 pm in Dehradun, Haridwar and Nainital.
In the green zone too, many restrictions would continue. For example, shops selling liquor, tobacco products, barber and saloon services would remain closed. Schools, Malls, Cinema theatres, restaurants, bars, etc., would also remain shut till further orders. Inter–district and inter-state traffic in the green zone would also remain prohibited as before as in the red zone districts.
In addition, permission has also been granted in green zone districts for private construction works but the Police and the civil administration would have to ensure that adherence to social distancing and the SOPs regarding safety in view of the Corona pandemic are ensured in each case.
People were also asked not to leave their homes without essential work and whenever coming out of the house, to essentially use face masks. The CM appealed to the people of the 9 districts to leave house only when absolutely necessary and follow social distancing while being out of the house.
Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, DGP Anil Kumar Raturi, Secretary Amit Negi, Nitesh Jha, Shailesh Bagoli, Radhika Jha were present in the meeting.
It may be recalled that Pauri which had one Corona case has also become free of Corona now as the patient has recovered but it remains under Orange category. The green zone districts are Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Champawat, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar. In a late night order, District Magistrate Dehradun Dr Ashish Srivastava permitted shops of non essential items to be open also from Sunday onwards in Vikas Nagar, Mussoorie, Doiwala, Rishikesh, Herbertpur and Chakrata. Restrictions will however continue as present in Dehradun Municipal area. The relaxation granted in other towns of Dehradun district shall however not apply to liquor shops, barber shops and salons, bars and restaurant, malls, cinema theatres and malls. Shopping complexes would also not be permitted to be open in the entire district.
