DC Megha Nidhi Dahal urges MLAs to guide people of their respective constituencies

In an effort to minimise the large inflow of people stuck in different parts of the country due to lockdown, Deputy Commissioner, MN Dahal urged the MLAs to request the people of their respective constituencies to stay put where they are and not rush home following the resumption of economic activities and more relaxations to follow suit.

Dahal in interaction with Katlicherra MLA, Sujamuddin Laskar, Algapur MLA, Nizamuddin Choudhury and representative of Hailakandi MLA, Anwar Hussain Laskar at his office chamber here on Wednesday made an impassioned plea to them to prevail upon the people of the district working in different parts of the country not to rush home as ‘economic activities have begun and more relaxations are on the anvil’.

The Deputy Commissioner took up the matter with the MLAs prior to the arrival of stranded people from different parts of the country to Hailakandi by train. Dahal told the people’s representatives that the coming of people in hordes would create problems and it would be in the fitness of things to stay put where they are and not to rush home in view of relaxations amid lockdown given by the Central and state governments. “In view of the lifting of certain restrictions to pave the way for more economic activities and more in the offing, people need not rush home but come slowly and gradually,” he said, adding, that the state government has given an assistance of Rs.2,000 each to those staying back for the next three months.

However, he made it clear that the administration would facilitate the necessary arrangements for the people returning back to their homes. The Deputy Commissioner, in his first meeting with the MLAs after assuming office on Saturday, urged them to take the initiative to set up institutional quarantine facilities and to identify the suitable places in their respective constituencies.

The MLAs assured the Deputy Commissioner of their unstinted support and cooperation in the fight against COVID-19. Dahal also took up the matter with Karimganj MP, Kripanath Mallah when the latter met him at his office chamber. Dahal thanked MP, Mallah for providing infrared thermometers to the administration in the fight against COVID-19. Superintendent of Police, Pabindra Kumar Nath was also present on the occasion.

Dahal went to Badarpur railway station on Tuesday and met the Area Manager and Karimganj Deputy Commissioner to discuss the arrival of people from outside the Barak Valley by train in a day or two. All the finer points were discussed for better coordination between the administrations of the two adjoining districts to make the whole process hassle-free and smooth.

Dahal also inspected the inter-state and inter-district checkpoints at Kachurthal, Katakhal, Thundapur, Bilaipur and other places to oversee the arrangements put in place. Police and health personnel are manning the checkpoints set up to accord reception to the stranded persons coming from different parts of the country to the Hailakandi district.

Meanwhile, prior to the arrival of people from outside the district, the district administration has identified several places for setting up additional quarantine facilities to accommodate the returning people, who will be put under quarantine for 14 days. “Our administration is gearing up to enhance the capacity of institutional quarantine facilities keeping in view the arrival of people in the next couple of days,” said Dahal, adding that anyone coming from outside the district would have to undergo 14-days’ mandatory quarantine.