J&K seals borders with 3 States/UT, restricts traffic on NHs
*Several trying to enter Jammu held up at Lakhanpur
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 23: Acting tough in its fight against Coronavirus, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today sealed its borders with neighbouring States of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Ladakh, ordered restrictions on movement of traffic on National Highways, strict screening at entry points and released Rs 40 crore at the disposal of Deputy commissioners to fight spread of the virus while 318 persons in 165 vehicles, mostly the locals of J&K trying to enter into the UT from Lakhanpur, have been lodged by the administration at various rest houses and will be allowed to move further after quarantine.
Jammu region and the Union Territory of Ladakh remained under complete lockdown barring movement and sale of essential services which was ordered by the administration of two UTs last night till March 31 to keep people indoors but police had tough time at many places including Jammu City and Highways where some people were found travelling unnecessarily and had to be forcibly sent back to their houses.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh told the Excelsior that though shutdown was peaceful in entire Jammu province, people at some places ventured out of their houses unnecessarily. In view of this, he added, the police authorities will strictly enforce shutdown and legal action will be taken against those found violating the prohibitory orders issued by the administration.
“As the borders of Jammu and Kashmir with neighbouring States of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been sealed, movement of traffic excepting those carrying essential commodities has been completely restricted at Lakhanpur, the gateway to the UT of J&K,” Mukesh Singh said.
In the afternoon, the J&K administration ordered sealing of the UT’s inter-State borders with neighbouring Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh to prevent spread of Coronavirus.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting of civil and police officers chaired by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam.
Subrahmanyam this evening visited Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, in Kathua district where 318 people travelling in 165 vehicles, were waiting for entry to Jammu from Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi and some other States in view of curfew and lockdown there.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua OP Bhagat said the administration will quarantine all persons who want to enter Jammu and Kashmir.
“There are 318 persons in total and we have made arrangements for their night stay and food. Those critical/ill will be handled on priority and after proper treatment will be allowed to go with marked stamp `For Home Quarantine”, Bhagat said.
Out of 318, 125 persons have already entered and remaining will be adjusted in buildings with quarantine facilities.
Punjab has also completely stopped vehicular movement from J&K via Lakhanpur from tomorrow. Today, Punjab allowed their citizens to return from J&K.
Authorities today observed movement of some persons who had nothing to do with essential services and were just moving out for joyrides on mostly deserted roads and streets.
“A number of such persons were detained but released later after warning,” sources said, adding that from tomorrow the police will arrest “unwanted travelers” on the roads to strictly enforce shutdown which had become mandatory to prevent spread of Coronavirus.
Even today, police have registered nearly 50 FIRs at different places against the persons violating the Government order on shutdown in Jammu region. A number of persons voilating the prohibitory orders were either arrested or detained. A number of shops were sealed while vehicles were seized for defying the order.
The problem of unwanted travelers was not only confined to Jammu City but also Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Pathankot National Highways.
Meanwhile, Simrandeep Singh, Secretary Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, today added eggs, poultry, meat, mutton, and poultry feed in the list of 16 Essential Services already declared yesterday. Singh clarified that oxygen cylinders, sanitizers and masks are covered under manufacturing for health equipments.
The Government, meanwhile, also ordered release of an additional Rs 40 crore to all Deputy Commissioners to support their corona-mitigation efforts besides two months’ advance ration to eligible consumers.
The Government spokesman said the meeting also decided to release Rs one crore to the Jal Shakti (Public Health Engineering) Department to augment the supply of drinking water in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations would be allocated an additional fund of Rs 50 lakh each to augment their sanitization efforts, the spokesman said, adding other Municipal Committees of J&K too would be given some additional funds for the purpose.
Taking a serious note of reports of some travelers skipping screening and self-declaration at arrival points or falsifying any information regarding their travel, the Chief Secretary directed strict checking at entry points of Qazigund and Lower Munda along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other entry points, airports and Bus Stands.
The Chief Secretary said the action should be initiated against those putting others at risk.
The spokesman said the meeting also decided that advance ration for two months — April and May — would be issued to all eligible consumers.
Besides, one month’s ration for Mid-Day Meals would also be given in advance to all parents of eligible children, the spokesman said.
The Chief Secretary directed to keep all treasuries in Jammu & Kashmir open to facilitate encashment of bills in view of the closure of the financial year.
District Magistrate Leh Sachin Kumar Vaishya today, issued an order enforcing complete shutdown in Leh district exempting essential services. A similar order was issued by District Magistrate Kargil Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary yesterday.
Lockdown has been declared in the Union Territory of Ladakh, where 13 persons have so far tested positive for COVID-19.
Authorities were maintaining strict surveillance on every kind of movement and have advised the people to stay at home as much as possible and come out only for purchasing essential items and that too only a single person, as permissible under the restrictions imposed by the district administration of Leh and Kargil.
In entire Jammu province, shops except those dealing with essential commodities permitted by the Union Territory Government, remained shut and public transport was off the roads. National Highways of Jammu-Srinagar, Jammu-Pathankot and Batote-Kishtwar besides major roads like Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch wore deserted looks. UT Government offices have already been closed till March 25.
No untoward incident was, however, reported from any part of the region. Police vehicles could be seen moving at various places making announcements from the mikes advising people to stay indoors.
No shortage of any essential commodity was reported from any part of the region, sources said, adding that police personnel were seen at various places marking circles outside Bank ATMs and ration shops advising people to keep distance while purchasing essential items.
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