COVID-19: Officers asked to ensure availability of daily essentials in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: As the nationwide lockdown is on to prevent spread of deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), Odisha Chief Secretary today asked all District Collectors and Commissioners of Municipal Corporation to ensure availability of groceries and other daily needs of people like milk and vegetables in all ULBs during the lockdown.

The Chief Secretary also asked the officials to ensure that people maintain social distances while purchasing groceries and other essential items.

Large markets attracting large number of traders and consumers may be spread out on to the nearby open spaces, playgrounds and roads, the Chief Secretary wrote. He asked the officials to implement the directive immediately in the ULBs.

Shop-sale timings can be increased to reduce congestion and efforts may be made to extend it to night hours.

This apart, circles or square must be made before each shop to enforce social distancing for consumers in the queue system.

The Chief Secretary asked the officials to facilitate home delivery of groceries/vegetables/fruits/ medicines in all cities and towns.

Mobile eatery vans can be converted into mobile grocery/vegetable/fruits vans. Besides, non-mechanised vehicles/tricycles/push carts can be used to sell groceries/vegetables/fruits while following social distancing norms, the letter read.