Govt note hints at extension of lockdown

An internal note, dated April 4, states that the feeding charges for the police personnel for 33 days, at a rate of Rs 250 per day, should be paid and the feeding charge for 91,244 police personnel from March 24 to April 30 (except for five Sundays) is worked out to be Rs 75.27 crore.

“Moreover, given the outbreak COVID-19, patrolling by the police officers round the clock is need of the hour and strict vigil has to be maintained constantly to enforce Section 144 prohibitory orders during the period from March 24 to April 30 and till the further announcement by the government, if any,” the communication said while pressing the need for sanctioning of feeding charges at a rate of Rs 250 per day for a maximum of 33 days to those from the rank of grade II police constable to the inspector of police.

When contacted a senior police officer disclosed that there is a plan to extend prohibitory orders till April 30. “The decision is not finalised. We expect the decision to come by the second half of this week,” the officer noted.

Similarly, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation has requested for masks, sanitisers, disinfectants etc for 35,533 employees of the corporation for 30 days at an estimated cost of Rs 1.42 crore, suggesting that the lockdown will be extended.

The disclosure of government departments preparing for lockdown till the month-end came to light from the order of sanctioning of the funds to the tune of Rs 101.66 crore to various departments from the State Disaster Response Fund.

Other than the police department and civil supply corporation Rs. 1.88 crore has been sanctioned towards the disinfecting activities of tenements of Slum Clearance Board.

Another Rs 22.57 crore has been sanctioned to Public Health and Preventive Medicine department towards civil and electrical work, furniture and equipment for establishing temporary quarantine facilities. Rs 50 lakh has also been sanctioned to the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency for the COVID19 related requirements, including masks, sanitisers and transportation towards containment of the outbreak.

There are no plans to deploy of army or paramilitary as is being rumoured, said Commissioner of Revenue Administration (CRA) and Disaster Management J Radhakrishnan, adding that Tamil Nadu has around 70,000 police personnel to take care of the situation.

Speaking to DT Next, the official said authorities at all levels have been instructed to follow the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and book offenders who fail to understand the seriousness of the situation. Recently, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla had written to all states to widely publicise the penal provisions under the Act and IPC for violations.

It has been stressed that strict action should be taken against violators, who would face imprisonment for two years for endangering others’ life, the official said.

According to the Act, anyone refusing to adhere to the directions of the State and central governments would be imprisoned for up to one year or fine. If such obstruction or refusal to comply with the order results in loss or endangers lives, the convict would be imprisoned for two years. Failure of government staff to execute their duty would also lead to one-year imprisonment, the CRA pointed out.

Around 95 per cent of the public were adhering to the norms, Radhakrishnan said, noting that violators formed only 5 per cent of the population. Agreeing that some who step out to buy essential commodities fail to practise social distancing, he added: “We are sensitising Collectors to increase awareness in such cases. Traders who fail to maintain social distance are also warned and booked.”

The number of cases booked for violating ban orders in the State is nearing 80,000, Till 10 am on Sunday, 78,837 violations were reported and 78,707 persons have been arrested. As many as 59,868 vehicles were impounded. Sofar, Rs 21,26,044 has been collected as fine from violators. An inspector, speaking to DTNext, warned youngsters against taking prohibitory orders easily as the violators are booked under Sections 188, 269 and 270 of IPC.Until the case is closed, those who have been booked will have trouble in getting police verification for passport or if selected for a government job, he cautioned.