DISTRICT MAGISTRATE ORDERS TOTAL CURFEW IN MUNICIPAL LIMITS ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS TILL AUGUST 31

DISTRICT MAGISTRATE ORDERS TOTAL CURFEW IN MUNICIPAL LIMITS ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS TILL AUGUST 31

ISSUES ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS TO CONTAIN FURTHER SPREAD OF COVID-19 FAR MORE EFFICACIOUSLY

IMPOSES NIGHT CURFEW FROM 7 PM TO 5 AM PROHIBITING MOVEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS FOR ALL NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES

VIOLATIONS OF GUIDELINES AND LOCKDOWN MEASURWS BE PUNISHABLE UNDER DMA-2005

HOSHIARPUR, AUGUST 21 (ADESH PARMINDER SINGH): In order to contain spread of COVID-19 pandemic far more efficaciously, the District Magistrate Apneet Riyait on Friday evening issued orders of additional restrictions within municipal limits of Hoshiarpur district during the period from 22nd to 31st August in compliance of instructions issued by the State Government.

The orders stipulated that there would be total curfew on Saturdays and Sundays in Municipal limits upto August 31, 2020. As per the orders, there will be night curfew between 7 pm and 5 am during which movement of individuals for all the non-essential activities shall remain prohibited between within municipal limits throughout the week.

However, the essential activities and services, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, interstate & intra state movement of persons and unloading of cargo and travel of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and aeroplanes will be permitted. Essential services include the services related to health , agricultural and related activities, dairying and fishery activities, banks, ATMs, stock markets, insurance companies, on-line teaching, public utilities, public transport industry in multiple-shifts, construction industry, offices both private and government, media both visual & print etc. Movement of persons and students in the connection with all kinds of examinations, admission/entrance tests conducted by Universities, Service Commissions and other institutions shall be permitted.

As per the orders, the shops/malls will be open till 6:30 pm from Monday to Friday while on Saturdays and Sundays these establishments will remain closed. Likewise, shops/malls (dealing with essential commodities) will remain open till 6:30 pm throughout the week. Religious places, sports complexes, stadiums, public complexes, restaurants including restaurants/hotels in malls and liquor vends will also remain open till 6:30 pm throughout the week. Hotels will also remain open during all seven days. Only 3 persons including driver to be allowed in a four wheeler vehicle. All buses and public transport vehicles to allow sitting for 50% capacity with no person standing.

The orders also stipulated that there shall be a complete ban on all social, political, religious gathering, protests and demonstration. However, gatherings relating to marriage and funerals shall be allowed only for 30 persons and 20 persons respectively. Government and private offices shall operate with 50% staff strength till the end of the month i.e. not more than 50% of employees would be permitted on a particular day. The Heads of Offices would restrict public visitors in Government offices and encourage use of on-line Punjab Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) and other on-line tools so as to minimise person to person contact in offices.
Any violation of these guidelines and lockdown measures shall be punishable under sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 besides legal action under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).