Arunachal Pradesh government has announced to lift the lockdown in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) and Doimukh in Papum Pare district, with certain restrictions from Monday.
The ICR consists of Itanagar, the state capital, Naharlagun, Nirjuli, and Banderdewa. The region along with the Doimukh area of Papum Pare district was under total lockdown since July 6.
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Chief secretary Naresh Kumar said, “The decision to lift the lockdown was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Pema Khandu on Saturday.”
“The state government has decided to allow activities under certain regulations in all areas of the ICR, except those declared as containment zones by the district administration from 5 am on August 3 to 5 am on August 31,” Kumar, who was addressing a virtual news conference, said on Sunday.
The chief secretary said the areas declared as containment zones shall, however, be completely locked and all activities, except for medical emergencies and supply of essential commodities in the containment zones would be totally restricted.
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Kumar said, “All government offices outside the containment zones would function normally, however, without any visitors, while all other economic activities including the shops and business establishments would be allowed to carry on with their businesses from Monday to Saturday between 8 am to 5 pm.”
All shops and business establishments, except health facilities and pharmacies, would, however, remain closed on Sundays.
Kumar said shopkeepers and their delivery persons, home service providers such as electricians and plumbers. who come in close contact with the public, would be tested at random for Covid19 through RDT-Antigen test by the district administration.
The restaurants of the ICR have also been allowed to function from 9 am to 9 pm, however, only for home deliveries.
It further was informed that the shops and business establishments on either side of the national highway from Hollongi to Banderdewa would be allowed to open on alternate days.
In regards to the movement of public transport, Kumar said the government has decided to allow public transport such as buses, auto-rickshaws, and taxis to operate, but with fifty percent capacity at any given time.
The inter-district and intra-district movement of people within the state would also be allowed from Monday without any restrictions; however, the movement of people between districts via Assam will be regulated by a travel permit.
“The permit with validity only for the same day of travel will be issued at the check gates till August 31,” Kumar said while adding that any person who enters the destination district beyond the valid time period of the travel permit would have to undergo the returnee protocol.