Bamang Felix
Image credit - Northeast Now

Arunachal Pradesh home minister Bamang Felix on Thursday said the government is working out modalities to allow entry of people coming from outside the state only through Banderdewa check gate and other goods-carrying vehicles through Gumto and Hollongi entry points.

“Besides ensuring the smooth passage of returnees, this would also reduce the traffic flow in the Banderdewa check post,” said Felix.

The home minister also asked the deputy commissioners and SPs of both Itanagar Capital Region and Papum Pare district to make a detailed plan and submit the same to his office within 24 hours.

Felix, who was addressing a meeting at the Police Training Centre’s conference hall in Banderdewa, further said the Kimin Gate has been sealed for any kind of communication.

In terms of the quarantine centre at the Police Training Centre in Banderdewa, Felix said the state government is trying to provide all kind of facilities to the inmates there.

He directed the deputy commissioners to immediately fill up the additional requirement of toilets and water and directed the station superintendents of Capital and ISBT to coordinate with the nodal officers for smooth conveyance of these passengers.

Both the Itanagar Capital Region and Papum Pare administrations have to work jointly to fight the war against coronavirus pandemic, said Felix.

Education minister Taba Tedir stressed that SOPs, instructions and guidelines issued by the authority concerned should be strictly followed at the gates while transporting the returnees.

“Only if we are able to contain the virus at the entry points, then we will be able to stop its spread,” he said.

Meanwhile, nodal officers were appointed for coordinating the passage of students and people from various districts.

These districts are Papumpare, Kamle, Lower Subansiri, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Upper Subansiri, East Kameng and Pakke Kesang.

The nodal officers were properly briefed and asked to strictly follow SOPs during the entire course of travel.

The nodal officers were further directed to ensure that those passengers are escorted by police during their journey and handed over to the quarantine centers in their respective districts.

The ministers and officials on the day also visited the hostels where people under quarantine are currently staying and also took stock of the condition of toilets and availability of mobile toilets.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]