Coronavirus: Industrial activity to resume only in orange & green zones

PM Narendra Modi has announced extension of the complete lockdown of the country till May 3 to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

With 1,553 more COVID-19 cases, India's total number of coronavirus cases has reached 17,265, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday.

PM Modi has urged people to stay at home and follow social distancing.

Keeping in mind the current financial situation of low-income earners, the Centre had said that it will be permitting a few more essential services to function in areas that are not Covid-19 containment zones after April 20.

Industrial activities in orange and green zones will resume but with restrictions and precautions. Whereas red zone areas will continue to be under complete lockdown.

In order to mitigate hardship to the public, select additional activities would be allowed, which would come into effect from 20th April 2020. However, these additional activities would be operationalized by States/ Union Territories (UTs)/ District Administrations based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines on lockdown measures.

In the wake of coronavirus spread, Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government decided to not relax the lockdown in the capital for at least a week.

Farming operations in fields, Machinery shops, services related to fertilizers and seeds, APMC markets and Mandis, harvesting and sowing will be permitted

Operation of fishing like processing and sale, hatcheries, commercial aquaria, animal husbandry including distribution and sale of milk products, animal shelter homes, etc will be allowed.

Banks, ATM and IT vendors for banking operations will be functional.

Private vehicles for medical emergency services and for getting essential commodities will be allowed.

MGNREGA- Centre has allowed all manner of works, but has accorded priority to water conservation and irrigation activities. This assumes significance in view of the forthcoming monsoon.