Govt To Take Call on Fresh Guidelines on June 8

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday announced to continue till June 8 the guidelines and instructions issued by it while extending lockdown 4.0.  

The order comes day after Ministry of Home Affairs issued fresh guidelines which while extending lockdown in containment zones till June 30 allow, among others extensive relaxations including opening of religious places and shopping malls besides hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services in a phased manner from June 8.   

“These (MHA) guidelines require State and UT Governments to assess the current spread of the COVIO-19 pandemic and based on this assessment, prohibit certain activities outside the Containment Zones or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary, which will require a detailed assessment and consultations on the spread of COVID-19 in Jammu & Kashmir,” reads an order issued by Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam in his capacity as chairperson State Executive Committee.   

“Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act. 2005, the undersigned in his capacity as Chairman of the State Executive Committee, hereby orders that the guidelines/ instructions issued vide Order No. 54, 55 and 56 -JK-(DMRRR) of 2020 dated 19.05.2020 & 24.05.2020 shall continue to remain valid till 08.06.2020,” order, a copy of which lies with GNS, added.

Extending lockdown 4.0 till May 31 on the lines of the Government Of India, the government had on May 19 and 24 permitted resumption of many activities including opening of shops, private offices, limited vehicular movement in Orange and Green Zones and private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, liquor shops and restaurants for home delivery, banks and financial services etc in the entire J&K.

However, air travel (except medical emergencies and security purposes), trains, inter-State, inter-district and intra-district buses for public transport and private vehicles except those permitted, schools, colleges, Universities, hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, shopping malls, religious places and movement of individuals for all non-essential activities between 7 pm to 7 am was to remain prohibited in entire Jammu and Kashmir.

Prior to issuance of guidelines, the UT Government revised list of Red, Orange and Green Zone districts of J&K.

All districts of Kashmir province except Ganderbal and Bandipora besides Kathua, Samba and Ramban districts of Jammu province were categorized as Red Zone. Bandipora, Ganderbal (Kashmir), Reasi, Udhampur and Jammu (Jammu) were categorized as Orange Zone districts while Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri as Green districts. (GNS)