Chandigarh, May 7 (UNI) Amid the spiralling Covid numbers, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday authorised the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to impose any new and harsher restrictions, as needed, within their respective districts, but made it clear that no dilution of the existing curbs would be allowed, except for opening of non-essential shops and private offices on rotation.
The Chief Minister also directed the DGP to strictly enforce the weekend lockdown in the state and deal stringently with any violations in view of the Kisan Sangharsh Morcha’s anti-lockdown agitation on Saturday.
Asserting that the Kisan Morcha, an amalgamation of 32 kisan unions, cannot dictate terms to the state government, the Chief Minister warned of strict prosecution in case of violation of any restrictions. He said if any shops are opened in violation of the restrictions, the owners will be prosecuted.
Chairing a virtual high-level Covid review meeting, the Chief Minister authorised the DCs to take any decision on opening of non-essential shops or private officers on rotation, after taking the local MLAs and other stakeholders into confidence.
However, the DCs cannot impose any restrictions on inter-district movement, he said, underlining the need to allow free flow of people and goods on the Highway network of the State.
The new curbs, if any, and the opening of shops on rotation will come into effect from Monday, he said.
Responding to DGP Dinkar Gupta’s remarks that various districts wanted to adopt different models for phased opening of shops, the Chief Minister said the decision on working out the local systems rests with the DCs.
