RANCHI: Chief minister Hemant Soren on Sunday extended the lockdown in the state for the next two weeks keeping it in sync with the nationwide extension till May 17. Soren, however, said there will be no lockdown relaxations in the state government in any of the three zones — red, orange and green.
Relaxations given earlier to agriculture-related activities and industries will continue to be in force.
Soren said the decision to not implement any relaxations as per national advisories was taken in view of the expected increase in return of stranded migrants and students to the state.
He said, “The migrants have started returning to Jharkhand and the state government has decided to extend the lockdown for another two weeks as a precautionary step. The relaxations suggested by the Union government will not be implemented anywhere in the state.”
Jharkhand finance minister Rameshwar Oraon, who is also the president of the state unit of Congress, supported the move. Oraon, who is a member of the ministerial sub-committee of the state Covid-19 task force, said, “The entire government machinery is on the same page with regard to lockdown and we support Soren’s decision. Our priority is to scan as many people as we can, curb the spread of virus and at the same time ensure people in rural areas get jobs and food.”
As per the classification of the Union ministry of home affairs, Ranchi district is currently in red zone, while nine districts in the state are in orange zone and the rest in the green zone.
An official in the state disaster management department said on condition of anonymity, “The situation in Jharkhand is different as we are experiencing a massive reverse migration. The state government is not fully prepared to go for relaxations and at the same time regulate the entry of stranded migrants.”
He added, “Although all those who are coming back are being advised to stay in home quarantine and those with symptoms of Covid-19 are being sent to government migration centres, we don’t have enough manpower and resources to track if everyone is adhering to the rules. Hence, the decision was taken not to provide new relaxations in any of the three zones. The government is hopeful that the situation will get better in two weeks.”
Relaxations given earlier to agriculture-related activities and industries will continue to be in force.
Soren said the decision to not implement any relaxations as per national advisories was taken in view of the expected increase in return of stranded migrants and students to the state.
He said, “The migrants have started returning to Jharkhand and the state government has decided to extend the lockdown for another two weeks as a precautionary step. The relaxations suggested by the Union government will not be implemented anywhere in the state.”
Jharkhand finance minister Rameshwar Oraon, who is also the president of the state unit of Congress, supported the move. Oraon, who is a member of the ministerial sub-committee of the state Covid-19 task force, said, “The entire government machinery is on the same page with regard to lockdown and we support Soren’s decision. Our priority is to scan as many people as we can, curb the spread of virus and at the same time ensure people in rural areas get jobs and food.”
As per the classification of the Union ministry of home affairs, Ranchi district is currently in red zone, while nine districts in the state are in orange zone and the rest in the green zone.
An official in the state disaster management department said on condition of anonymity, “The situation in Jharkhand is different as we are experiencing a massive reverse migration. The state government is not fully prepared to go for relaxations and at the same time regulate the entry of stranded migrants.”
He added, “Although all those who are coming back are being advised to stay in home quarantine and those with symptoms of Covid-19 are being sent to government migration centres, we don’t have enough manpower and resources to track if everyone is adhering to the rules. Hence, the decision was taken not to provide new relaxations in any of the three zones. The government is hopeful that the situation will get better in two weeks.”
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