In view of the situation arising due to coronavirus and the related national lockdown, Assam transport, industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary reviewed the various issues faced by industry and transport sectors with senior officials of the departments at Janata Bhawan on Thursday.
Chairing the review meeting, minister Patowary stated that if an industrial unit needs to reopen, then it has to first apply for permission from the respective deputy commissioners.
The deputy commissioners in consultation with health officials may grant permission only to those industries producing essential commodities like biscuits, soap, sanitizers, pharmaceutical products, fertilizers, pesticides etc.
“As far as the industry department is concerned, it is going to be very careful in reopening of all industries as in the current situation, safety is foremost,” stated the minister.
So far, 137 industrial units like rice mill, flour mill, pharmaceutical industries, cattle feed, bakery units etc have reopened in the State after getting due permission from the respective deputy commissioners.
Patowary has also appreciated the generous contribution of the industrial units to support the endeavour of the Government to counter COVID-19 and also in the distribution of relief materials like food, soap, sanitizers, masks etc by the industries.
Reviewing the transport sector, Dr K K Dwivedi, commissioner and secretary, informed minister Patowary that the Transport Department has facilitated in mobilization of trucks at 12 locations for unloading of rakes of rice, foods items, cement etc. 800 trucks loaded with essential commodities have been transported for different destinations in Assam.
One nodal officer each from NF Railway, Assam Police, Transport and Food and Civil Supplies departments have been ensuring smooth transportation of goods and trucks.
The transport minister directed that district transport officers (DTOs) in all the districts must assist the police in facilitating the movement of these trucks in their respective districts.
‘DTOs posted at inter-state border districts of Assam must maintain a record of the number of trucks entering and leaving the state.’ added Patowary.
A P Tiwari, MD, ASTC informed the minister that the ASTC has also provided a bus to Srirampur with a team of GMCH doctors under health and family welfare minister to screen and discharge the people kept in quarantine who were stuck at Bengal border in Srirampur as they were in transit the day lockdown was imposed.
Besides, ASTC has also provided 76 buses which are coordinating with district administration, hospitals, police and municipal bodies.
Secretaries Manjula Saikia Bhuyan and Razvee Hussain; commissioners Adil Khan and Oinam Sarankumar Singh and other senior officials were present in the meeting.