Assam allows shops in rural areas to open from Tuesday

With regards to the post-lockdown scenario the Assam Cabinet decided that shops in rural areas will be opened from Tuesday. Bazaars and weekly Haats will be closed until further notice as per the government orders.

Addressing the media in Guwahati, Assam Minister of Transport, Industry & Commerce Chandra Mohan Patowary said that shops in the declared five red zone districts of Assam classified as Hotspot Zones will remain closed. The districts are Golaghat, Morigaon, Nalbari, Goalpara and Dhubri.

He also said, “Those red zones districts sharing borders with green zones, shops will not be opened within a radius of 5 km irrespective of whether the area falls under green zone. The lockdown will continue till May 3”.

Shopping malls, Gyms, Cinema halls, restaurants, Temples, Mosques, Churches and other recreation centres will remain closed all over the state.

Meanwhile, Cachar, Hailakandi, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Lakhimpur, South Salmara Mancachar and Karimganj have been classified as non-hotspot districts reporting cases.

The Assam Government has decided to allow inter-district travel till May 2 with the prior approval of the respective deputy commissioners.

Minister Patowary clarified that the state government won’t take any individual decision on extending lockdown beyond May 3 and will abide by whatever decision the Centre takes on extension of lockdown.

Earlier in the morning, PM Modi held a video conference with the chief ministers to discuss the road ahead. This was the fourth such meeting between PM Narendra Modi and state chief ministers since the outbreak emerged.

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, Goa CM Pramod Sawant and a few more Chief Ministers mooted for extension of lockdown beyond May 3.

So far, Assam has reported 35 cases with 27 cured/discharged patients under home quarantine and one fatality.