Hoshiarpur (The Stellar News): In pursuance of detailed guidelines under unlock-4 issued by the state Government, the District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Hoshiarpur Apneet Riyait on Monday evening issued orders under section 144 of the CrPC with imposition of total weekend curfew on Saturdays and Sundays in municipal limits. These orders will remain in force from September 1 to 30.
As per the guidelines, the District Administration will comply with the directions issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) on Unlock-4 in the light of rising cases and fatalities due to COVID especially in urban areas. The Deputy Commissioner said that the restrictions including weekend curfew on Saturdays and Sundays in the municipal limits would be imposed till September 30. She said that night curfew would also be continued as earlier with prohibition of movement of individuals for all the non-essential activities between 7:00 pm to 5:00 am within municipal limits throughout the week.
However, the essential activities and services, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, inter-state & 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 services related i.e. 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 etc.
The Deputy Commissioner further pointed out that the movement of persons and students in the connection with all kinds of examinations, admission/entrance tests conducted by Universities, Boards, Public 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 guidelines also mentioned that there shall be a complete ban on all social, political, religious gathering, protests and demonstration. hlowever, 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.
