GUWAHATI, March 31 - State Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary today clarified that the state government has not relaxed the lockdown norms, however, some industries would be allowed to function with limited staff, subjected to the permission from the deputy commissioners of the respective districts.
After the declaration by the Assam Cabinet on March 30 regarding limited easing of curbs imposed due to the national lockdown concerning reopening of rice and fodder mills, tea industry, biscuit and other food production units from April 1, there was some miscommunication on social media regarding dilution of the lockdown norms.
�The industries would be allowed to work only after the industry owners give application to the deputy commissioners of their respective districts. Only after the DC and the Health department are taken into confidence regarding the particular industry following health department instructions, including the norm of social distancing, the permission will be given,� Patowary told The Assam Tribune.
�The basic idea behind this decision is to maintain the supply chain, without affecting the nationwide fight against COVID-19 and it nowhere means lifting the lockdown. The lockdown has completed seven days and to keep the supply chain healthy, the norms have been eased for some industries,� he added.
At present, there is sufficient stock of essential commodities in the state for the next seven days as Assam is a consumer state and not a major producer state.
�The stock of some of the essential items like mustard oil, wheat flour, etc. will have to be replenished. Similarly, the tea industry has also been demanding the easing of norms to implement plant protection measures to avoid long-term damage to the plants,� he added.
For tea industry, limited activities like spraying of pesticides and irrigation of tea plants in tea gardens would be allowed.
Earlier, social activist Ajoy Dutta had questioned the State government�s decision to ease the curbs of lockdown in some sectors from April 1.
