Inter-district movement to be banned in Assam from 21 May for 15 days

May 17: Due to unabated inter-district movement, the Covid-19 containment measures are not yielding the desired level of reduction in Covid-19 cases. In order to break the chain of coronavirus, Assam government has contemplated to ban inter-district travel. Assam Director-General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta informed this during a press meet on Monday. He further stated that the details in connection with the inter district travel ban will be notified shortly. An order to this effect was issued by Jishnu Baruah, Chief Secretary, Assam on Monday. The inter-district ban will come into effect from 5 AM on 21 May, 2021 and will remain in force for a period of 15 days or until further orders except exemptions as specified below:

1. Movement of goods and persons including frontline workers in connection with COVID-19 related duties on production of valid documents.

2. Movement of Officials and persons, both government and private involved in emergency services such as Health and Family Welfare and all related medical establishments, Police, Prisons, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and emergency services, District Administration, Pay & Account Office, Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Public Transport (Air/Railways/ Buses) including all incidental services/activities that are essential for smooth functioning of all modes of public transport ( such as handling of cargo, ticketing, air freight station, CFS, ICD etc.), Disaster Management and related services, IMD,CWC, Water Resources Department, PHE, NIC, NCC and Municipal services, and all other essential services on production of valid Identity card.

3. Movement of Judicial officers / officials of courts of Assam on production of valid Identity card.

4. Movement of pregnant women and patients for getting medical /health services.

5. Movement of persons coming from/going to Airports/ Railway stations/ ISBTs allowed to travel on production of valid ticket.

6. Movement of Officers/officials related to functioning of offices of Diplomats of various countries as well as persons holding any constitutional post on production of valid Identity card.

7. Movement of Electronic, print Media and Government servants handling media issues on production of valid Identity card

8. There shall be no restriction on inter-state movement of passengers and transportation of essential / non-essential goods. No separate permission / e-pass will be required for such movements.

9. Movement of persons related to commercial and private establishments providing following essential services/commodities shall be allowed:

• Shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits & vegetables, dairy & milk booths, meat & fish, animal fodder, pharmaceuticals, medicines and medical equipments.
• Banks, Insurance offices and ATMs.
• Telecommunications, Internet services, Broadcasting and Cable services, IT and IT enabled services.
• Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipments through e-commerce.
• Petrol pumps, LPG, CNG, petroleum and gas retail and storage outlets.
• Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services.
• Cold storage and warehousing services.
• Private security services.
• Manufacturing units of essential commodities.
• Production units or services, which require continuous process

10. Movement of persons who are going for COVID-19 vaccination.

11. Movement of all the officials/persons entrusted with election related works either by Government authorities or by private enterprises or by the authorities of any political party or contesting candidate on production of a valid Identity card/ engagement letter / appointment order / work order.

12. Movement of all the employees / persons involved in operations related to forestry under the Environment & Forest department on production of valid Identity card.

13. Movement related to supply and maintenance of agricultural implements.

14. Movement related to essential items supply from and to FCI establishments.

15. Transportation of all medical personnel, nurses, paramedical staff, other hospital support services.

16. Movement of Air traffic, Railway passenger and goods trains shall continue to operate.

17. Movement of Government / semi government officers in the rank of Deputy Secretary and above and senior executives in Non-Government sector along with their key support staff for emergency and essential works.

18. Movement in connection with maintaining supply chain of medicines.

19. Movement of goods shall continue uninterrupted.

20. Movement related to medical, last rite emergencies or any other movement with written permission from the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioner of originating district.

The order further stated that “Other restrictions and exemptions as notified vide Orders of 4th May, 2021 for rural areas, of 12th May and 15th May, 2021 for urban and peripheral areas and clarifications issued on 13th May, 2021 shall continue to remain in force.

Earlier during the day, in a statement issued by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, it was stated that, “Considering the spread of Covid cases from one district to another, inter-district movement of people shall be temporarily suspended from 21st of May, 2021. This shall help in reducing the positive cases coming from outside a district.”