Manipur government extends curfew in seven districts till June 11, relaxes more activities

IMPHAL:The Manipur government on Friday extended the curfew imposed in the seven districts - Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur and Ukhrul - for 14 more days amid the continous surge in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state.

The curfew was extended as the number of infections of the Covid-19 virus detected everyday continues to be very high relative to the population and is a cause of concern, said an order issued by the Home department.

While the order limited permitted activities, including restrictions on inter district movements in the remaining nine districts, it eased a handful of restrictions.   

It stated that all secretariat and directorate offices to start functioning with e-office and physical attendance of 15 per cent staff from June 1 by taking adequate precaution and strictly following Covid Appropriate Behaviour.

Departments like Media, Power, Fire Service, PHED, CAFPD, Home, Health, Relief and DM, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Finance and Treasuries and Police departments and District Administration will continue to function as before.

Vehicle workshops of goods trucks, petrol tankers, LPG bullets and others outside the Imphal Municipal area may open from 8 am to 3 pm on all days and rice mills are also allowed to open subject to taking adequate precaution and strictly following Covid Appropriate Behaviour, it said.

The order further permitted opening of local vegetable vendors from 7 am to 10 am for purchase by the locals on May 30, June 2, June 5 and June 8 where the vegetable vendors should be seated at least feet away from one another and should wear mask all the time.

It said one out of three grocery shops of the total shops or vendors in one location shall be allowed to open on rotational basis from 7 am to 10 am on May 30, June 2, June 5 and June 8.

If the shops or vendors are located in congested rows (on major roads like NH both sides may open), then only alternate rows shall be allowed to open. Queue system should be adopted by all shops and vendors, it added. 

Life Insurance Corporation with limited staff on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 2.30 am can dispose time bound works, stated the order. 

The order further mentioned that wholesale shops of grocery and food essentials located in Thangal Bazaar and Masjid Road will be allowed to open from 7am to 12 noon as per schedule.

The scheduled are: Thangal Bazar will be open for retailers of Imphal West and Masjid Road will be open for Imphal East on May 31; Thangal Bazar will be open for Senapati and Kangpokpi and Masjid Road for Kamjong and Noney on June 1; Thangal Bazar will be open for Ukhrul and Bishnupur and Masjid Road for Tamenglong on June 3; Thangal Bazar for Thoubal and Kakching and Masjid Road for Chandel and Tengnoupal on June 4; Thangal Bazar for Churachandpur and Masjid Road for Pherzawal and Jiribam on June 6 and Thangal Bazar for Imphal West and Masjid Road for Imphal East on June 7, it stated.

Concerned deputy commissioners may issue movement passes for the retailers and the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police shall take necessary action to implement the orders strictly, mentioned the order. 

Strict ban on vehicular movement will continues even during 7 am to 10 am and the three Ima Keithels, its adjoining markets and the local markets at Khurai Lamlong, Andro Parking, Lambulane, Kongba, Pishum thong, Kwakeithel, Nagamapal, Singjamei Bazaar, Wahengbam Leikai and major other major markets in other districts shall remain closed, it added.

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