Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 401/20

NIGHT CURFEW PROMULGATED IN EAST KHASI HILLS

In view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19 in the state, country and globally and to put in place preventive and mitigation measures, to identify and take more stringent steps so the pandemic of COVID-19 is contained, reduced and eliminated in East Khasi Hills District and Meghalaya by way of ensuring observance of strict protocols of the advisories issued by the Government of Meghalaya in the Health and Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued today under Section 144 CrPC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 has promulgated night curfew in East Khasi Hills District with effect from 31st May, 2020 upto 8th June, 2020 for timings falling between 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM each day. The District Magistrate said that the Order will not apply to Security Forces, Medical Teams on duty, Wholesale and Retail Pharmacies, Police and Armed Forces, Fire and Emergency Service, MeECL, NEEPCO and Power Grid, Food and Civil Supplies Department, FCI, PWD, PHE, Shillong Municipal Board, Postal Service, Telecom, Communications and IT Services, Press, Print and Electronic Media, Petrol Pumps, including Indian Oil Corporation, essential services including Health Services and online/home food delivery and delivery shall be exempted only upto 10:00 P.M., authorized workshops and designated spare parts dealerships of Health & Family Welfare Department and Government officials on Duty. These Services shall strictly comply with all protocols and procedures including social distancing, limiting of field staff to the barest minimum and other advisories of Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail.

Also, movement of vehicles carrying essential goods, security forces, medical equipments and shops for repair of trucks on highways are exempted. However, drivers and attendants of the vehicles shall be subject to medical screening as per laid down protocols. Curfew passes for timings falling between 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM with effect from 31st May, 2020 upto 8th June, 2020 can be obtained via online application at www.eastkhasihills.gov.in.

Press Release No. 402/20

PROHIBITORY ORDER

In view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19 in the state, country and globally and to put in place preventive measures and awareness, to identify and take more stringent steps to ensure social distancing so the pandemic of COVID-19 is contained, reduced and eliminated in East Khasi Hills District and Meghalaya by way of ensuring observance of strict protocols of the advisories issued by the Government of Meghalaya in the Health and Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued today under Section 144 CrPC read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 has prohibited in all of East Khasi Hills District including Shillong urban agglomeration, Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and C&RD Blocks with effect from 31st May, 2020 upto 8th June, 2020 only for timings falling between 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM each day inter-district and inter-state movement, any assembly whatsoever and while enforcing this every individual to mandatorily maintain social distancing of at least six feet, wearing of masks, respiratory etiquette and to strictly follow the various protocols and advisories of the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department at all times, without fail. The order also prohibits the operation of major markets and shopping complexes in all commercial locations, opening of saloons, beauty parlours, spa and other similar rejuvenating centres, operation of all cinema halls, gymnasium, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars and auditorium, assembly halls and similar recreational places, all forms of contact sports and spectators in sport grounds and stadia, hotels and hospitality services other than those used as quarantine facilities and housing of stranded persons and tourists.

The order also prohibits operation of educational institutions, training centres and coaching classes (tuitions) barring online and distance learning, opening of all religious and places of worship to the public including religious congregation, all forms of gathering including social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious functions, moving in public and work places without a mask, movement of persons above 65 years of age, person with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years in public places beyond individual households except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes, spitting in public places and consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco etc in public places. Additionally the order also prohibits only in Shillong urban agglomeration including areas falling under Umshyrpi bridge upto 7th Mile Upper Shillong of Mylliem C&RD Block, and in all areas falling under Census Towns of Mawlai and Mawpat C&RD Blocks the operation of shops dealing in non-essential items including footwear, gift items, bags, suit case, watches, perfumes, toys, sports gears and equipments, grooming gadgets, sofa sets, chandeliers, table and chairs, unauthorized car washing unit, tailoring, private Printing Press, furniture workshops etc., opening of restaurants, cafes, food outlets, dairy stalls, tea and food stalls, however, home delivery and takeaway is allowed. Further, the order prohibits the opening of tent house shops, incoming additional labour force from outside the District to in-situ construction activities, such activities are to continue with the in-situ workers on site while maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks, respiratory etiquette and other protocols and advisories of the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department. In-situ workers shall also include labourers, supervisors, contractors etc. working in the construction site coming from their residence within the same District. Operation of public and private transport barring public transportation arranged by the Government of Meghalaya in the Transport Department.

The general instruction of the prohibitory Order states that operation of permitted supply chains, wholesalers and retail outlets in the whole of East Khasi Hills District including all shops in Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and in all the C&RD Blocks of East Khasi Hills will be regulated as per scheduled timings and dates which will be released in advance from time to time by the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District. Also the operation of permitted services establishment, agricultural, industrial and commercial activities shall strictly adhere to the prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and national directives of Government for COVID-19 management in work place and mandatory compliance the advisories of Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail. 50 percent of private and public transport will operate in Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and in all the C&RD Blocks of East Khasi Hills as notified earlier.

The District Magistrate also informed that vehicle pass for timings falling between 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM with effect from 31st May, 2020 upto 8th June, 2020 can be obtained via online application at www.eastkhasihills.gov.in. The designated Joint Secretaries, Heads of Departments and District Heads of Offices in East Khasi Hills will issue vehicle passes only to their respective Officers and staff specifically for official purposes and the Sub-Divisional Officer (C) Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and Block Development Officers of East Khasi Hills will issue vehicle passes to their respective Officers and staff specifically for official purposes and to private agency(s) under their respective jurisdictions for performing specific permitted economic activities. The designated Joint Secretaries, Heads of Departments, District Heads of Offices, Sub-Divisional Officer (C) Sohra and Pynurlsla Civil Sub-Divisions and Block Development Officers will ensure that the passes are utilized strictly for the specified purpose and any deviation will render the Issuing Authority and the employee, staff, pass holder liable to legal action. Name, address, contact details, timings and purpose of the pass to be clearly reflected. The prohibitory Order states that public and private vehicles moving with a pass in Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and C&RD Blocks and authorized public vehicles of Transport Department and private vehicles moving with a pass in Shillong urban agglomeration will move with two passengers and driver for four-wheelers, one pillion rider restricted only to female, child below the age of 12 years with driver for two-wheelers and to utilize only 50 percent of seating capacity. Passes for all forms of inter district and inter-state movement shall only be issued by the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District.

Press Release No. 403/20

PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS TO OPEN

The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued today has informed that to enable local residents to purchase daily essential commodities and to meet their commercial requirements in Shillong agglomeration and in villages of Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and respective C&RD Blocks in East Khasi Hills District, during the National Lockdown called by the Government of India in Ministry of Home Affairs concerning COVID-19 situation in the State and in the Country has directed the listed private and commercial establishments to remain open in Shillong urban agglomeration from 3rd to 6th June, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M each day. The order also stated that all Fair price shops under NFSA and NON-NFSA, SK Oil retailers, identified groceries and essential items shops, vegetable, fruit, meat vendors and confectionery shops, listed registered suppliers and retailers of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Agriculture Departments will open only for sale of livestock, poultry, pet feed and agricultural inputs respectively will open in Shillong urban agglomeration. Listed hardware and electrical shops, home delivery of books by book stalls, Mobile Car Repairing Service consisting of a driver and two technicians/mechanics and dry cleaning shops are also allowed to operate and open. The Deputy Commissioner informed that listed private and commercial establishments which include shops that sell, repair and service mobile phones, computers as well as mobile phone recharging centres, stationery shops and stand-alone automobile repair shops for repairing works of vehicles and auto-spare part shops will remain open in Shillong urban agglomeration on 4th and 5th June, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M each day. The order also stated that listed private and commercial establishments which include shop that sell products on clothes for new born babies, kitchen utensils, household electronics, kitchen appliance repair service, travel agencies, other essential items including umbrella and raincoats and optical stores will open on 3rd and 6th June, 2020 with effect from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. each day in Shillong urban agglomeration. Selected wine stores and automobile showrooms will open in all East Khasi Hills District from 1st to 6th June, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.

All shops as notified by Political Department recently will remain will open daily in Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and in all the C&RD Blocks in East Khasi Hills District barring saloons, beauty parlours, spa and other similar rejuvenating centres which shall remain closed on all days till further orders, Sale of dry fish or processed fish (including tungtap and smoked fish) as notified by the State Government, however, sale of these items shall be restricted only in respective localities of Shillong city and in the localities of each village in rural areas, collection centres of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited in community halls of each locality throughout East Khasi Hills District, notified courier services for essential goods and e-commerce operations in essential goods, however, these E-commerce operations are permitted only for the lists of essential goods as notified by the state government, notified Common Service Centres, distribution of packaged drinking water and juices and authorized car wash which are registered with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board will open from 3rd to 6th June, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day in all of East Khasi Hills District including Shillong urban agglomeration, Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and in all C&RD Blocks in East Khasi Hills District. The order also stated that pharmacies both supply and retail, Veterinary Hospitals, Dispensaries, Clinics, sale and supply of medicines and vaccines, petrol pumps, home delivery and takeaway of food, shops for repair of trucks located on National and State highways, services provided by self-employed persons, namely, electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters, construction works in rural areas and only in-situ construction works in urban areas with only in-situ worker which shall include labourers, supervisors, contractors etc working in the construction site coming from their residence within the same District, private office establishments with 33 percent employee strength are allowed to open daily in all of East Khasi Hills District including Shillong urban agglomeration, Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and in all the C&RD Blocks of East Khasi Hills District. However, these private office establishments shall have to obtain permission and submit and undertaking to the District Magistrate for mandatorily compliance to the national directives, SOPs of Government of India for COVID-19 management and to all advisories of Health and Family Welfare department.

Food processing units in rural area including rice mills and mustard oil processing, brick kilns, industrial units, cement plants (only 50 percent capacity), mining of limestone and boulder by lease-holder for domestic sale in the state or country, however, export outside the country is permitted only through automated, elevated conveyor belt with no human intervention, quarrying of chips and aggregates including their transportation, all agriculture and allied sectors activities like farming operations including livestock farming, poultry, fishery and hatcheries, collection, processing and distribution of milk and milk products, mandis by AMPC, procurement and marketing of agricultural produce, Custom Hiring Centres, cold storage and warehouses, manufacturing, packaging and distribution of agriculture inputs, seed, animal feed and fodder, movement of harvesting and sowing related machines and implements, operation of tea industry including plantation for production, processing, packaging and marketing, transportation of all agricultural products of which permission for transit and routes involved needs to be obtained from the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, without fail, MGNREGA works with strict implementation of social distancing and face mask and 50 percent of private and public transport will operate in Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and in all the C&RD Blocks of East Khasi Hills District as per notified arrangements, tea stalls only in rural area barring those along the National Highway who have submitted undertakings to the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, respective SDO (civil) Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub-Divisions and concerned BDO will remain open daily. Any tea stall found violating social distancing norms shall be closed. Operation of permitted services, agricultural, industrial and commercial activities shall strictly adhere to the prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Government and mandatory compliance to the advisories of the Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail. Rangbah Shnongs in coordination with District Police will regulate the operation of the shops, services and commercial establishments in their respective localities and villages and to also ensure due compliance to the advisories of Government in the Health & Family Welfare Department with special and strict reference to social distancing concerning the COVID -19 situation.

The Deputy Commissioner requested the public to strictly maintain social distancing of at least six feet, not to overcrowd in one area or shop, to wear mask which is mandatory, not to spit in public places and to cooperate with management made by the District Administration, District Police and Rangbah Shnongs. The Deputy Commissioner said that similar arrangements will be made for the days to come and specific instructions will be suitably published well in advance and added that adequate stock is available and there is no need to panic and resort to hoarding as it will have an adverse impact.