Centre’s team in Gujarat; holds meeting in Ahmedabad

Gandhiangar: A high power team of Central government is in Gujarat today to make on-spot assessment of Covid19 situation and issue necessary directions to State authorities for its redressal and submit their report to Central Government in large interest of general public.

The Centre had yesterday announced that it has constituted inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs), two for Gujarat and one each for Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Union Home Ministry had yesterday in a note said that the situation is especially serious in major hotspot districts of emerging hotspots like Ahmedabad and Surat(Gujarat); Thane (Maharashtra); Hyderabad (Telangana); and Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

According to a note released by the Centre: The IMCTs would be focusing on a range of issues including compliance and implementation of lockdown measures as per guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005; supply of essential commodities; social distancing in movement of people outside their homes; preparedness of health infrastructure, hospital facilities 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. If the incidents of above mentioned violations are allowed to occur without any restraining measures in hotspot districts/emerging hotspots or even places where large outbreaks or clusters may be expected, it would pose a serious health hazard for the people of the country.The Committees have been constituted by the Central Government in exercise of the powers, conferred, inter alia, under Section 35(1), 35(2)(a), 35(2)(e) and 35(2)(i) of the Disaster Management Act 2005. Governments of States/UTs have also been advised that while they can impose stricter measures than contemplated in the MHA Guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, they shall not dilute them. Also, the Supreme Court of India, in its Order dated 31.03.2020, has observed that all concerned State Governments, Public Authorities and Citizens of this country would faithfully comply with the directives and orders issued by the Union of India in letter and spirit in the interest of public safety. This observation, which must be treated as directions of the Apex Court, has also been conveyed to all States/ UTs Governments.