Hotels, Malls, Cinema Halls to remain shut, ban on gatherings to stay
Industrial activities to resume in Estates
Private construction allowed in some areas
Curbs on movement from 7 pm – 7 am
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 19: Extending lockdown 4.0 till May 31 on the lines of the Central Government, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today permitted resumption of many activities including opening of shops, private offices, limited vehicular movement in Orange and Green Zones and private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, liquor shops and restaurants for home delivery, banks and financial services etc in the entire Union Territory from tomorrow.
However, air travel (except medical emergencies and security purposes), trains, inter-State, inter-district and intra-district buses for public transport and private vehicles except those permitted, schools, colleges, Universities, hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, shopping malls, religious places and movement of individuals for all non-essential activities between 7 pm to 7 am will remain prohibited in entire Jammu and Kashmir.
Guidelines for lockdown 4.0 from May 20-31 were released this evening by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, who also happens to be the Chairperson, State Executive Committee.
Prior to issuance of guidelines, the UT Government revised list of Red, Orange and Green Zone districts of J&K.
All districts of Kashmir province except Ganderbal and Bandipora and Kathua, Samba and Ramban districts of Jammu province have been categorized as Red Zone. Bandipora, Ganderbal (Kashmir province), Reasi, Udhampur and Jammu (Jammu province) have been categorized as Orange Zone districts while Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri will be Green districts and entitled for maximum relaxations in lockdown.
In a major relief for the ailing community, the Government has allowed normal functioning of private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes including OPD services and all e-commerce and courier services in entire Jammu and Kashmir. Canteen, eateries at Bus Stands, Railway Stations and Airports (with passes in Red Zone districts) have been allowed to open while restaurants, including in hotels, have been allowed to run kitchens for home delivery only.
All agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and related activities have been permitted in the entire Union Territory.
Other activities which have been permitted in the entire Jammu and Kashmir included opening of liquor shops, banks and financial services, barber shops, saloons and parlours in all areas except within the limits of Municipal Corporations in Red/Orange districts and self-employed service providers such as plumbers, technicians, electricians etc.
The Government has also allowed marriage related functions but with not more than 50 persons by maintaining social distancing. However, the marriage functions will require permission in Red districts. The funeral and last rites related rituals will be permitted with not more than 20 persons maintaining social distancing, the Government order said.
The activities which will remain prohibited in entire Jammu and Kashmir included domestic and international air travel of passengers except for medical services, air ambulance, security purposes or for the reasons permitted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, movement of trains except permitted by the MHA and inter-State, inter-district and intra-district buses for public transport and private vehicles except those permitted in specific categories of districts.
Across the Union Territory, all schools, colleges, Universities, educational/training/coaching institutions (including Anganwadi centre) etc will also remain closed till May 31 but online/distance learning has been permitted. Their offices can continue to function for administrative purposes,
“Movement of individuals for all non-essential activities between 7 pm to 7 am will remain prohibited,” the Government order said and asked persons above 65 years of age, with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years to stay at home except for meeting essential requirements of health purposes.
Hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services will remain closed excepting those used for housing health, police, Government officials, health workers, stranded persons and those used for quarantine facilities. However, restaurants have been permitted to run kitchens for home delivery.
All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain closed across the UT. Other activities which will remain prohibited include all social, political, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions, other gatherings and congregations while religious and worship places will remain closed for public. Religious congregations have also been strictly prohibited.
In Orange and Green districts, the Government has allowed opening of all shops including those located in market areas, bazaars and market complexes except for single brand and multi brand malls, which will remain shut, the Government order said, adding that in the limits of Municipal Corporations, shops will remain open from 9 am till 5 pm without requirement of any passes. However, there will be no parking on roads of bazaars/market complexes/market areas to prevent congestion and ensure social distancing.
The Government has directed the District Magistrates to regulate markets to ensure there is no congestion and social distancing is maintained.
The Government has allowed intra-district movement of individuals in vehicles with a maximum of two passengers, besides a driver, in four-wheelers and with no pillion rider in case of two wheelers. However, inter-district movement of persons in private vehicles between a pair of Green/Orange districts, without crossing a Red Zone district, with a maximum of two passengers, besides the driver in four wheelers and wit no pillion ride in case of two wheelers, has been permitted.
The Cab aggregators have been permitted to ply with one driver and two passengers, only while auto-rickshaws will ply with a maximum of two passengers, both for inter-district movement.
“All privates offices will open in Orange and Green Zone districts with 50 percent staff in Orange and 100 percent in Green districts, which will be regulated by the Office Incharge while barber shops, saloons and parlous will also open in all areas of Green district and except within the limits of Municipal Corporation in Orange district. Sports activities will be permitted in Stadia and sports complexes without presence of spectators,” the Government order said.
The Green districts will have additional relaxations in lockdown as compared to Orange districts including operation of public transport vehicles (buses/Tempo-Travelers etc) with up to 50 percent seating capacity on inter-district routes and between contiguous Green districts.
In Green districts, taxi and cab aggregators are permitted to operate with one driver and two passengers only within the district, or between Green district only and auto rickshaws with a maximum of two passengers, only within the district or between Green districts only.
However, in Red districts shops in Malls and Markets (with clusters of shops like in Bazaars) and market complexes are not permitted except permissible shops seeking essentials items like groceries, fruits, vegetables, bakeries etc.
“Private offices will be permitted to function with only 33 percent attendance with passes needed for staff as prescribed in Red districts,” the order said, adding barber shops, saloons and parlours are not permitted in Municipal limits or Urban areas in Red districts. Opening and use of sports complexes and stadia even without spectators are not permitted in Urban areas of Red Zones.
The Government has, however, ordered resumption of industrial activities at all Industrial Estates with 100 percent work force in Green districts and 50 percent work forces in Orange and Red districts.
“Industrial activities can resume in all rural areas outside Municipal limits with 100 percent workforce. In urban areas of Red and Orange districts, for industries within Municipal limits, industrial activities can resume with the permission and with 50 percent workforces. All workshops, service centers and home workshops can operate with not more than five persons working on site/inside premises. However, all industries will have to comply with the health, safety and other instructions,” the Government order said.
The Government has ordered that in construction projects within Municipal limits, the labour/construction workers will have to stay at the construction site for which the arrangements will be made by the contractor and Executive Engineer. However, in construction projects in rural areas, the labour has to stay in areas adjacent to the construction site and there will be no large scale daily movement of labourers.
The Government has also allowed private construction in all Green and Orange districts without any need for permission/passes except in Municipal limits of Urban Local Bodies/Municipal Corporations.
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