‘Situation serious’ in Ahmedabad, Surat, Thane, Hyd, Chennai: MHA

April 24, 2020
New Delhi: The novel coronavirus situation is “especially serious” in Ahmedabad, Surat, Thane, Hyderabad and Chennai which are considered among major hotspots districts or emerging hotspots districts across the country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs made the announcement following reports received from various departments at central and state level.”Situation especially serious in major hotspot districts or emerging hotspots like Amhedabad and Suraj (Gujarat); Thane (Maharashtra); Hyderabad (Telangana); and Chennai (Tamil Nadu).”

The central government, meanwhile, has set up five more inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs), led by the Additional Secretary level officers, to monitor implementation of lockdown, supply of essential goods and other related issues in these cities. The teams will make on-spot assessment of the situation, issue necessary directions to state authorities for its redressal and submit their report to the Central government in the larger interest of the general public.

The IMCTs will also focus on the implementation of and compliance with the lockdown measures as per the guidelines, supply of essential goods and other related issues.

The committees have been constituted by the central government in exercise of the powers conferred under the Disaster Management Act 2005.The IMCTs will focus their assessment on the compliance and implementation of lockdown measures as per guidelines and they will also focus on issues like the supply of essential commodities, social distancing in movement of people outside their homes, preparedness of the health infrastructure, hospital facility and sample statistics in the District, safety of health professionals, availability of test kits, PPEs, masks and other safety equipment, and conditions of the relief camps for labour and poor people.

On April 20, the Home Ministry declared “serious situation” in 11 cities in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh and also set up six IMCTs which are on visit in these cities. Those are Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Mumbai and Pune (Maharashtra), Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Kolkata, Howrah, Medinipur East, 24 Parganas North, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, the Ministry had announced through a statement based on lockdown violation reports.

The Home Ministry then made the announcement after analyzing the prevalence of lockdown violations. The Centre’s motive behind the formation of the IMCT is to ensure the proper enforcement of the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus which has claimed 718 lives and led to over 17,500 confirmed cases across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 extended the 21-day lockdown for another 19 days. The ongoing restrictions under the lockdown are slated to end on May 3.