Arunachal, May 18: The Itanagar capital region (ICR) District administration (DA) has cancelled the permits it had issued to small shops in residential areas, following the massive movement of people and vehicles in the market areas during the lockdown on Monday.
This update comes after the Itanagar capital region (ICR) witnessed massive gatherings in the markets and major traffic jams on the first day of the extended lockdown on 17 May.
The ICR administration has also imposed a curfew till 31 May with immediate effect.
The two separate orders for the extended lockdown in the ICR in Arunachal by the deputy commissioner and the restrictions issued for the rest of the state by the principal health secretary on the same day likely led to confusion among the citizens.
As per the new order, the permits issued to a few identified shops in sectors and colonies to function in the capital region stand cancelled with immediate effect.
However, the instructions “were misconstrued and taken advantage of,” as some officials pointed out.
“We were only allowing small shopkeepers and those who were going for vaccination to move along the highway, but too many vehicles started coming out and it soon got out of control. We tried explaining to several of them, but there is no sense of responsibility among the public,” an official said.
ICR DC Talo Potom said that “People should not be confused and understand that the lockdown has been extended for 14 days and is still in place till 31 May.”
The DC said that some shops in sectors and colonies in the capital were issued permits to open for the convenience of the public, “but now it has to be also cancelled” because it is defeating the containment efforts of the frontline workers and the administration.
Meanwhile, the DC appealed to those exempted from the purview of the curfew to not come out if not on duty.
Acknowledging that many exempted officials and individuals are also coming out without any duty assigned to them, the DC informed that strict checking will be conducted at all nakas set up across the capital region. “Each naka will also be provided with magistrates on duty to ensure that exemption to a few is not misused,” he added.
