Pondy govt toes Centre's line on lockdown norms
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who chaired a meetingof the cabinet to take decisions on easing of thelockdown, told newsmen that the meeting had decided toimplement the shutdown as was decided by the Centre andenforce it from Monday.
Announcing relaxations of the norms in non-containmentzones, he said all industries across the Union Territory havebeen permitted to resume work from Monday and no priorpermission would be required for restarting the units.
Puducherry and Mahe regions are classified as orangezone while Karaikal and Yanam come under green zoneclassification, the chief minister said.
All industries, shops and establishments would bepermitted to carry on business from 6 am to 5 pm and theowners should ensure workers maintained social distancing andused sanitisers.
Hotels are also permitted to do business between 6 amand 5 pm but only takeaways would be permitted.
The cabinet has not taken any decision on re-openingof liquor shops, he said.
The territorial government would arrive at a decisionon this, taking into consideration the prevailing situationand also after seeing what other states are going to do, hesaid.
Government offices would also function from Monday andall officers coming under Groups A and B should attendoffices while 33 per cent of the staff coming under the 'C'category should attend office.
He said Puducherry now had five containment zones(Ariyankuppam, Muthialpet, Reddiarpalayam, Tiruvandarkoiland Tirukanur) where no industrial enterprise or shops andother activities would be permitted.
Naryanasamy said with neighbouring districts ofVillupuram and Cuddalore of Tamil Nadu registering a rise inthe occurrence of COVID-19, the Union Territory which isclose to these districts should be extremely cautious andensure no intrusion of anyone from these districts intoPuducherry.