COMPLETE BAR ON PUBLIC GATHERINGS IN PUNJAB, FIRs COMPULSORY FOR VIOLATION MARRIAGE FUNCTIONS LIMITED TO 30: DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

MASKS TO BE MANDATORILY WORN IN WORKPLACES, OFFICES, CLOSES SPACES, AS PER NEW GUIDELINES

Ludhiana, July 14: Channel88 News (Bureau):- Stepping up its fight against COVID, the Punjab government has put a complete bar on all public gatherings, while restricting social gatherings to five and marriages/other social functions to 30 instead of the current 50 and 20 for funerals.

Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Sharma informed that mandatory FIRs shall be filed against those found violating the curb on public gatherings, which now stand strictly disallowed. He said that joint teams of police and civil administration shall strictly enforce the restrictions on social gatherings (restricted to 5 under section 144 imposed in all districts) as well as weddings and social functions. The management of Marriage Palaces/Hotels shall be held responsible and shall face suspension of licence in case of violation of norms. Further, the Management of Marriage Palaces/Hotels/other commercial spaces will have to certify that adequate arrangements for ventilation of indoor spaces have been made.

Wearing of masks has been made compulsory in work places/offices/closed places, as per the new guidelines, with also directs strict enforcement of the Health Department advisory on Air Conditioning and ventilation/air circulation. Public dealing in offices has been curtailed to cater to need based and urgent issues.

He said that there shall be no physical presentation of demand charters by Associations etc, serving of tea, etc. has to be avoided, as are physical meetings of more than 5 persons, at the workplace, as per the revised management and containment strategy for COVID.

To check the spread of Dengue/vector borne diseases prevention, the Commissioner Municipal Corporation Ludhiana has been directed to carry out sanitation drive in Ludhiana city, while BDPOs, EOs, Nagar Councils/Nagar Panchayats would undertake the sanitation drive in rural and urban areas in the district on campaign basis.

Mr Varinder Sharma said that the National Directives for COVID 19 Management guidelines, standard operating procedure (SOP) and advisories issued by the government should be strictly followed and any violations shall invite criminal proceedings under the relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the Indian Penal Code 1860.