Rules forgotten, normalcy returns in several districts

Normalcy returned following the relaxation of lockdown curbs as roads witnessed heavy vehicle movement and shops remained open in commercial areas in Coimbatore on Monday. Most of the commercial areas including Gandhipuram, Town Hall and Oppanakkara Street in Ukkadam, which wore a deserted look all these days during lock down period, sprang to life on Monday. The arterial roads too witnessed heavy traffic requiring cops to regulate traffic at major intersections.

Though most of the people out on roads wore masks, social distancing norms were given a go by in shops, especially the meat shops. To control the crowd, the police on patrol requested shops selling non-essential items to shut down and wait until detailed guidelines are issued by the State government. In Erode too, the textile and hardware shops, which remained shut for over 40 days  were reopened in the morning.

Meanwhile the Traders Association in Erode has issued circular asking shops not to rush into starting business and to wait for a couple of days, for the district to move into green zone from the existing orange zone.

Meanwhile in  Tiruchy, the social distancing regulations had gone astray after the district collector S Sivarasu relaxed the lockdown norms from Monday based on the advice from the State government.

During the morning hours, vehicles ruled the roads and traffic congestion was witnessed at the arterial road including, Palakkarai, Chanthiram bus stand, Central bus stand, Melaputhur and Thanjavur road. The vehicle users were not maintaining the social distancing and many failed to wear masks. Though the police went on announcing about the importance of wearing masks and social distancing no one seemed to pay attention. Even the shop keepers who resumed their business failed to maintain the distance.

CHENNAI: Following the relaxations provided by the government, some of the government offices which remained shut during the lockdown period had resumed work.

“We were asked to report on Monday and there were nly minimal staff in our department. People who

went to their natives are struck and could not come to office”, said an official in Secretariat, on request of anonymity.

In the first round of lockdown, only the essential government services were available and officials attached to the departments under essential services were directed to work.

However, in the subsequent lockdown orders, all the State government offices were opened with 33 percentage staff. Another official Ezhilagam said that although the offices were opened, most of the government staff are sent for field work and the offices are deserted.

The official also said that the State government had passed strict orders to sanitise all the government offices twice a day to ensure that none of the officials are infected by coronavirus.

Though the government offices have been opened, peoples are hesitant to visit them. The condition is

true even for sub-registrar offices which are otherwise crowded. A sub-registrar on request of anonymity said that they started functioning even before the lockdown was extended after the State government announced their department as one of the essential services. But there are hardly any person in the

office.

The fear of COVID-19 had gripped people which is evident as they avoid coming to the government offices, stated the sub-registrar. 

COIMBATORE: The Tirupur district administration has issued a set of guidelines for knitwear units and industrial sector permitted to resume operations from May 6.

Chairing a meeting with representatives of industrial bodies, Tirupur district collector K Vijayakarthikeyan asked industrialists not to employ workers from containment zones.

“The list of containment zones should be pasted on the entrance of every industrial unit. There should be separate entry and exit ways for workers. Before engaging labourers, they should be completely screened and ensured that they do not suffer from any infection,” he said. If any worker is found with cold, fever and cough, they should be given paid leave and home isolated. Besides, masks are mandatory for all workers, he said.

TIRUCHY: The industries in Karur would resume their activities with a few restrictions from May 6 and the firms at urban areas would function with 30 per cent workforce while in the rural areas, the firms can function with 50 per cent manpower, said the transport minister MR Vijayabaskar on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, the minister said, with relaxed norms in 144 section, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has allowed the industries to resume their activities.

The textile firms, mosquito net weaving units and bus body building units would function with minimum staff strength and the firms should ensure that there is no worker beyond the age of 50 is present during this time.

VELLORE: Confusion prevailed in Vellore after police asked shops, hotels bakeries and other commercial establishments, which opened on Monday following the relaxations announced for third phase of lockdown, to down shutters. When TN hotels association president M Venkadasubbu contacted, Collector A Shanmuga Sundaram clarified that shops would be allowed to open only from May 6. Vellore police also chased away a group of nearly 500 out-of-State persons staying in hotels and lodges around CMC hospital demanding officials to make arrangements for their return to their home states immediately, on Monday.

Superintendent of Police Pravesh Kumar held talks and tried to pacify them, but the group refused to move from the area. So the police had to chase them away.Meanwhile in Tirupattur district, most places except Tirupattur, Ambur and Vaniyambadi towns, returned to near normal as restrictions were eased.