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Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 4 (EMN): Nagaland government on Monday issued revised guidelines for the third phase of lockdown Nagaland, which has been extended till May 17, incorporating relevant points from the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines.
Some of the new guidelines include permission to ply taxis and auto-rickshaws with limited passengers, as well as inter-district movement of stranded and distressed people.
The relaxation came after Nagaland was declared a green zone by the Centre.
Announcing the revised order at a press conference in Kohima, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said that the state government wants to first facilitate the inter-district movement of stranded and distressed persons in a “regulated manner”.
The relaxation is exclusively for distressed and stranded persons who really need to go back to their villages and towns, he clarified. The government will bear the expenditures for inter-district movements of stranded and distressed persons.
In some villages and towns, it was reported that villagers were restricting their own people from entering the village. Instructions have been issued directing the villagers to allow stranded and distressed persons to enter, he said. “There is no basis to refuse the entry, since we are in green zone”.
If at all, the issue continues, the government will take “appropriate action”, he warned.
The state government has also allowed running of taxis with two passengers per cab (not zonal), as well as auto-rickshaws (only one passenger). But relaxation on the auto-rickshaw and taxis will not be applicable to the 14 bordering sub-divisions, the chief secretary said.
However, the relaxation comes with precautionary measures. Both the drivers and passengers should wear masks. The driver should make mandatory provision for hand sanitiser, failing which the permit will be cancelled.
Further, the fares will be charged at the rate prescribed before the announcements of lockdown measures, he said.
Toy assured that the unions and associations (of taxis, auto-rickshaws) have agreed with the deputy commissioners of their respective districts that limiting the number of passengers should not lead to increase in fare.
It may be mentioned that movement of passenger buses such as city buses will continue to be prohibited.
In regard to the citizens of Nagaland returning from other states or abroad, Toy said that separate guidelines will be issued as the government is still working on the standard operating procedures (SOP).
He said that the government has been receiving ‘a lot of calls’ from the stranded citizens. ‘The state government is also aware that some states have open their borders but we don’t want to take hasty decisions and end up with more complications and problems later,’ Toy said.
Sealing of inter-state borders will continue in toto as existing before May 3 in all 14 entry-exit points and at the international border of state with Myanmar, the order stated. However, the chief secretary clarified that people from other states stranded in Nagaland will be allowed to exit, in co-ordination with their respective states.
He assured that the team is still working on how the government can bring in stranded citizens of Nagaland from other states.
“We are in touch with different states, various organisations, railways and airlines to bring them in. But we are not giving any dates now, because we need to be ready to take them in. The only possible way for virus to come in could be from our own people. We need to be very careful,” he said.
‘With a large degree of confidence, one can say that though the virus may have entered Nagaland, but as of today it does not exist. However, this means that the only danger of the virus we face could be now through the import of people coming in from outside the state, which is the main area of concern,’ the chief secretary added.
Nagaland government’s decision of levying Covid-19 cess on petrol and high motor spirits and diesel showed the extent of transparency, he said. The government could have called it tax vat, but it has intentionally called it Covid-19, to show that the amount that will be coming through the cess will be use only for the purpose of addressing Covid-19.
According the chief secretary, other states have called to appreciate the decision.
“Imposition of Covid-19 cess should be taken in the right spirit. There is no need to create such a big fuss on it. This has been done for a good cause. The underlying word is transparency,” Toy said in reaction to the criticisms for imposing Covid-19 cess.
Nagaland is a salaried economy and therefore, people depend on salary, which means that the government is a major provider. Without resources it will become extremely difficult for the government to run the state in the normal course, Toy said.
To hire a fully loaded truck from Dimapur to Kohima will normally cost around INR 14000 and will consume about 80 litres of diesel (around INR 400). Total fare plus diesel price will come to less than 3 %, according to him.
Toy hoped that the goods and essential commodities’ transport owners will not increase in the price of essential commodities, because of the increase of price of diesel. He added that he is in touch with the district administrations to ensure that everyone is in this fight together and make sacrifices.
The state government has spent close to INR 20 crore, which does not include medical-related expenses. In addition, through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, special package has been extended to stranded students, working professionals (out of their job). He said that the state government can “do much more” for them but there is a limit to the resources.
According to the new guidelines, the activities that will continue to remain prohibited are domestic and international air travel, passenger movement by trains, inter-state buses for public transport and inter-state movement of individuals except on medical and security purpose or permitted by MHA.
All schools, colleges, educational, training, coaching institutions, including home tutorials, except for online learning and distance learning, hospitality services, cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, assembly halls, will remain closed.
All social, political, sports, cultural, religious functions and other gatherings continue to remain prohibited. Movement of individuals for all non-essential activities will be prohibited between 5 pm to 6 am.