JORHAT, April 9 - The Majuli district administration by giving certain relaxation during the lockdown period has allowed farmers to go to paddy fields for carrying out cultivation work.
The Majuli District Magistrate Bikram Kairi by an order issued today has stated that as per Central Government directive, the farmers will be allowed to go to the paddy fields during the lockdown period by taking neccessary tools to carry out cultivation work.
A Majuli district administration official told this newspaper this evening that the District Magistrate, in his order, however, has imposed certain restrictions in the relaxation given to the farmers.
As per the order, only two persons from a family could go the paddy field daily and each person has to maintain social distancing from each other as per Government instructions in view of threat of Covid-19 outbreak, the official said.
The order also stated that to carry out ploughing in paddy fields farmers would be permitted to take tractors/power-tillers to the field but they will not be able to use the vehicles for any other activity. Farmers will not be allowed to attach any trailer to the tractor, the order mentioned.
The official further said the order stated that the tractors and power-tillers will be allowed to be taken to fuel stations for filling diesel for which necessary permission has to be obtained from the local agriculture department office.
Moreover, those vehicles to be granted permission to take the vehicles to fuel outlets for filling would be allowed to bring diesel for other tractors and power tillers of the same area.
The order mentioned that the relaxation to the farmers have been granted with an aim to prevent any possibility of food shortage.
The order further said any violation of the conditions imposed in giving relaxation to farmers will be dealt with firmly by the district administration under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Assam Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, the official added.
