HP reimposes clampdown
Shimla: Facing a strong public outrage and Opposition protests for allowing unrestricted inter-state movement, Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday re-imposed clampdown on inter-state borders and ordered mandatory quarantine of industrial labour reporting to the factories.
More 70 cases, 69 of these in a single industrial unit at Baddi-Brotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt, has ringed the alarm bells in the state government compelling Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to revisit his orders on allowing people from other states to return without prior permissions.
Everyone coming to the state will be required to get prior permission after getting himself/herself registered on the online COVID 19 portal of the Information Technology (IT) department submitting valid proofs of residence and place of return, also purpose of the visit to the state.
The applicant seeking permission (e-entry) to the state will be required to mandatorily submit valid proof of his/her place of stay in Himachal Pradesh, and even destination where he/she will depart for Himachal Pradesh.
This move also comes close on the heels of several cases relating to fake proofs submitted by the people. Now, anyone found cheating and defrauding the government or breaching the COVID protocol will be facing criminal prosecutions.Long queues of the vehicles were found at the entry points of the state after the government had lifted the restrictions under pressure from the Centre. Under unlock 2.0, the state government had allowed entry of the tourists (with certain conditions) but others coming to the state were required to register themselves at the IT portal, not requiring any e-pass. This facility was withdrawn on Tuesday.
Thakur who reviewed the situation and asked officials reasons for highest spike in the coronavirus cases were told that migrant labourers coming to the industry, and those returning from the hotspots were primarily responsible for the rise in cases.
The number of cases on Tuesday crossed 1303 mark.These also included a pregnant woman and a five-year-old child.
