Pondy govt imposes curfew till March 31

Talking to media here after a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said in the wake of the corona scare and considering the welfare of the people, the administration is compelled to take some harsh decisions and sought the cooperation of the public.

He said people on their own came forward and remained indoors during the Janata Curfew. But, though prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC is in force here, people are gathering and hence, the decision to impose curfew till March 31 was taken.

All should remain indoor till March 31 and come out only on emergency and unavoidable circumstances, he said. Industrial units and commercial establishments were closed from 6 pm on Monday and shops selling essential commodities only would remain opened where more than five people should not gather. If anyone was found outside without valid reasons, the police will initiate stringent action, he added.

The Chief Minister said the service of online food providers like Swiggy is being suspended till March 31. All marriage functions need to be suspended till March 31 and funeral services should be finished within three hours with a limited gathering. Two-wheeler will also be not allowed on roads.

Two hospitals will be made available exclusively for COVID-19 and added that the Government Dental College here with 50 beds and the ESI Hospital with 100 bed will be utilised for this purpose.

He said pregnant women could come to the hospital for delivery and those with emergency requirement only should visit hospitals. The police would strictly implement rules and the public should cooperate, he added.

A decision on provision of assistance to the agricultural labourers and those below poverty line would be taken. The curfew would come into force in all the four regions of the Union Territory from 9 pm, he added.

The Chief Minister said in the past few days over 6,000 tourists, including foreign tourists, visited Puducuherry and stayed in 300 hotels here and 90 per cent of them left. It was very difficult to identify any of them were affected with COVID-19. However, police, health and revenue staffs here traced the hotels workers who attended them and isolated them.

As far as Puducherry is concerned there are no new COVID-19 cases here for the last three days. Despite that things are not being taken lightly, he said.