SHILLONG, April 10 - Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh today said that the lockdown period in the State should be extended till the end of this month, and that adequate precautions should be taken during the extended period.
In a letter submitted to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Lyngdoh cited the �rising cases of COVID-19 across the country,� for extension of the lockdown in the State.
Lyngdoh said all big markets in the State across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills region should remain closed. He suggested that only small local markets, where physical distancing of people can be maintained, should be allowed to operate.
The Speaker further asked the Government to completely close down all markets along the inter-State and international borders during the lockdown period. �All entry and exit points of the State with the neighbouring States and the country should remain closed with regulation of inter-district movements,� he added.
Further, vehicles entering the State with essential commodities must be disinfected at the entry and exit points. In fact the State Government has already put into place a strict protocol in this regard with truck drivers being sanitised at the entry and exit points.
On the issue of movement of private vehicles, which the State Government has said would be allowed after April 15, the Speaker suggested that an odd-even system should be applied in this case.
Lyngdoh also suggested that the Chief Minister should request the Central Government to stop movement of large numbers of troops into the State during transfer and posting of Central and Armed Forces personnel, for the time being as a precautionary measure.
On supply of essential commodities, Lyngdoh said that additional logistics for transporting agricultural products of farmers from the State should be arranged, apart from those existing now, while keeping a strict vigil on prices of essential commodities, especially rice and pulses.
