Market crowd forced Assam to withdraw exemption

Overenthusiastic zest for vegetable shopping forced Assam Government to roll back many of the exemption as thousands came out all over Assam making a mockery of the Lockdown.

This morning people of Assam were shocked to find thousands of people in numerous markets across Assam buying vegetable, fish and fruit.

The whole miscommunication  got originated from Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's announcement at Tezpur where he said all these shops would remain open.

"I am ashamed and hurt by the behaviour of the people. We decided to help them but they did the opposite. So we decided to close the market" said Chief Minster.

This enthused people to come out taking the entire administration off guard. Markets were up and running at Ganeshguri Nalbari, Tinsukia, Jorhat and everywhere.

An embarrassed government by afternoon had to announce thatexemptions for vegetables, fruits and poultry was withdrawn and only pharmacyand grocery shops would remain open.

The State government announced that home delivery has been organizedbut it is unlikely to happen before Monday.

In the process, the whole attention has been diverted from fighting corona to crowd management.

This is what Assam Chief Secretary announced :

: As per theinstruction of Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister, Assam  Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Chief Secretary, Assam hasissued the following directives:

1. All markets willremain closed until further order except grocery and pharmacy.

• Grocery shopswill also provide vegetables, fruits, eggs, gingers, garlic and water etc.

• DeputyCommissioners will organise distribution of vegetable etc. through mobile vansin all areas in alternate days.

• All meat, fishshops will remain closed till March 31. It will be reviewed on April 1, 2020.

• DeputyCommissioners will fix appropriate time of opening of grocery shops as perlocal convenience.

• Citizens aredirected to follow the advisories for social distances circulated earlier. Violationof the same will attract penal provisions under section 188 Indian Penal Code.

• Contact numbersof State Control Room, Assam State Disaster Management Authority ( in case ofany kind of emergency) : 1070, 1079, 94010-44617 and 0361-2237219