Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 1: Several industries falling within specific categories including essential commodities have been permitted by the Government to function during lockdown while following SOPs which have been issued by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.
The Department of Industries & Commerce under the guidance of Commissioner Secretary to Government, Industries & Commerce, has permitted 1007 industrial units to operate during the lockdown period in Jammu while as 468 units have been permitted in Kashmir as per provisions of the Standard Operating Procedure. Corresponding to the above 786 units have resumed their operation in Jammu whereas 455 units have become operational in Kashmir.
The department has facilitated the operation of all Pharmaceuticals and Oxygen gas bottling units. Other category of units which have been permitted to operate include Flour Mills, Rice Mills, Oil Mills, Packaging Material, Dal & Besan, Animal/ Poultry Feed, Surgical bandage, Disposal Syringes, Cotton and Dental material, Packaged Drinking Water, Iodized Salt, Agrochemicals, Spices, Cold Storage Facilities, Milk Processing, Soap Detergents, Sanitization Tunnels, Food Processing, Steel Rolling Mills/ Furnaces, Plaster of Paris, Cement, Paints, PVC Granules, Mosquito Coils, Briquettes, Mattresses, Textiles, Cotton Masks etc.
However, the permission for operating these units has been granted on the condition of following social distancing norms as specified by the Government under the notified SOP. The commuting of workers has to be done with only 30% capacity of the mode of transport used. The owners are required to keep the premises properly sanitized. The workers have to undergo thermal screening twice a day and wear masks.
It has been stipulated that the units shall operate with not more than one third of the staff and management to ensure maintenance of social distancing at the work place. Smaller units with strength of less than 20 persons and units where the labour resides within the unit premises are kept out of the purview of this stipulation. Pharmaceutical units have been permitted to work with 60% of the workforce.
The officers of the Industries & Commerce Department are regularly inspecting such units on weekly basis to monitor the observance of norms of social distancing.
Follow our WhatsApp channel