Pondy CM warns traders violating lockdown norms
The complaints came over phone from some legislators,political leaders and a section of the public.
During the visit to trade centres, the Chief Ministersaw absence of social distancing on the part of the shoppingpublic, lack of sanitisers and virtual crowding on thepremises of various shops.
He told a shopowner that "The government will not brookthe violations. We will not hesitate to suspend tradelicences if you do not adhere to the lockdown norms."
Narayanasamy told one shopkeeper not to let consumersgather in large numbers and should ensure social distancingon their part.
"How can you abstain from using face masks whilecarrying on business activities," he said after finding ashopowner selling masks.
He told another shopowner: "You have no right to offerroom for the pandemic to spread by your negligence; unlessyou play a pro-active role you will face the music, includingbooking of cases."
Later speaking to reporters, he said with neighbouringdistricts of Villupuram and Cuddalore of Tamil Naduregistering a rise in the occurrence of COVID-19, the UnionTerritory which is close to the districts should be cautiousand ensure no intrusion of anyone from these districts intoPuducherry. Already, around 70 people from Puducherry, who hadcontact with those returning from Koyambedu in Chennai, weresubjected to a medical check-up. The samples collected from them were being examined andthe results would be known shortly.
Territorial Health Minister Malladi Krishna Raoexpressed fear of rise in number of COVID-19 cases, asPuducherry lying close toCuddalore and Villupuram is in aperilous situation. Rao told a separate press meetthat he had anticipated athreat to the Union Territory as the flow of people fromother states would increase once lockdown norms are eased.
He said people's cooperation was not up to the expectedlevel.
The borders between Puducherry and Tamil Nadu have beensealed as a preventive measure to restrain flow of peoplefrom other states and also to check people travelling fromthe Union Territory to other states. CORNVG NVG