Kohima announces additional lockdown relaxation

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 11 (EMN): Following extension of lockdown till June 18 by the state government, the deputy commissioner and the chairman of District Task Force (DTF) Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie, on Friday issued guidelines with additional relaxations to be implemented within Kohima.

The DC notified in the order that Kohima DTF and law enforcing agencies will strictly enforce ‘No Mask-No Movement’ and ‘No Mask-No Entry’ approach during the lockdown period.

However, relaxations have been added, allowing permitted shops and business establishments to operate between 6 am and 2 pm by ensuring Covid-appropriate behaviours like mandatory wearing of mask, practicing hand hygiene and maintaining physical distancing. The order stated that respective shop and business establishment will ensure that there is no overcrowding in the shops and encouraged cashless mode of payment.

Shops along the highway selling vegetables, fish, meat, milk boots, bakeries, local grocery stores and animal feed have been allowed to open between 6 am to 2 pm, while main market areas in BOC and High School Junction will still remain closed.

Hardware and electrical shops, shops selling stationeries, mobile phones and computer accessories, garages for automobile repairing and shops selling vehicle spare parts will be allowed to open on June 12, 14, 17 and the 18th between 6 am and 2 pm.

Meanwhile, it maintained that restaurants and eateries shall be allowed to operate only take-away/ food delivery with proper queue system to ensure physical distance besides mandatory wearing of mask and hand hygiene.

Delivery of groceries and other e-commerce service providers are allowed to function. Contactless delivery should be ensured at all times along with maintaining of Covid-appropriate behaviour with cashless mode of payment, it informed.

In tune with state government’s order, regular religious services and gatherings will continue to be suspended, but prayer meetings and fellowships may be allowed at religious places with not more than 20 persons with strict adherence to Covid protocols.

Administrative offices of schools and colleges with a core group of officers/ staff will be permitted to attend to urgent and essential matters, stated the order. Private business offices with a core group of officers/ staff will also be permitted to attend to urgent and essential matters with the prior permission of the Kohima DTF.

With regard to new construction works, it stated that it will be permitted after examination by the Kohima DTF and fresh labourers shall be allowed as per provision under the Revised SOP for returnees and travellers.

Common Service Centres (CSCs) will also be permitted to open between 6 am and 2 pm for IT support during Covid-19 vaccination.

Taxis can resume service with negative Covid report

Along with Light Motor Vehicles, the district administration informed that Taxis shall be allowed to ply within Kohima district on odd-even system.

However, taxi drivers should produce a negative Covid-19 report not earlier than 72 hours from the day of operation. Taxis desiring to resume operation also should report to the Team of Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kohima through mobile phone number- 9366221563 / 9862159833.

The Team of RTO will be responsible for strict enforcement of production of negative reports by all taxi drivers before operation.

50% occupancy

The notification stated that only 50% occupancy will be allowed in all Light Moving Vehicles, including taxis, to maintain physical distance, and they should adhere to rate of fares earlier fixed by the RTA.

However, bus services, two-wheeler taxi service and pillion riding will remain suspended.

According to the order issued earlier by the commissioner of police, Dimapur, registration numbers ending with odd numbers (1,3,5,7 and 9) will be allowed to ply on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while those registration ending with even numbers (2,4,6,8 and 0) will be allowed to ply on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.

It has also stated that anybody violating the order will be penalised under U/S 177 and 179 of the MV Act 1988. Certain categories are exempted from the rule but they have been asked to carry ID cards issued by respective HoDs.

Odd-even system in Kohima, Dimapur

The officials in Kohima and Dimapur have informed in separate orders that odd-even system of traffic will continue in the two cities till June 18, except on Sundays.

According to the orders, vehicle registration numbers ending with odd numbers (1,3,5,7 and 9) will be allowed to ply on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while those registration ending with even numbers (2,4,6,8 and 0) will be allowed to ply on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.

It has stated that anybody violating the order will be penalised under U/S 177 and 179 of the MV Act 1988. Certain categories are exempted from the rule but they have been asked to carry ID cards issued by respective HoDs.