IndiaGuwahati, Apr 21 () Assam Chief Minister SarbanandaSonowal on Tuesday directed officials of border districts ofKokrajhar and Dhubri to screen drivers of trucks entering thestate as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.The chief minister said this in a review meeting withthe district deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents ofpolice (SPs) of the state through video-conferencing to takestock of the situation arising out of relaxation of guidelinesby the state government on Monday in certain sectors duringthe extended lockdown period.Sonowal instructed the DCs of Kokrajhar and Dhubridistricts to strictly screen all the incoming truck driversand their associates at Boxirhat and Srirampur gates on theAssam-Bengal border.He also instructed them to create adequate awarenessacross the villages near the border so that they can reportand stop anyone trying to sneak into Assam during the lockdownperiod.Directing the DCs to ensure that there should not beany irregularity in selecting the beneficiaries for the stategovernment's scheme of giving Rs 1,000 to those people who donot possess National Food Security Act (NFSA) cards, Sonowalsaid strict action should be taken against anyone involved inembezzling of public fund meant for the poor people.He also said that the scheme to provide five kg riceto the beneficiaries falling out of the ambit of the NFSAcards should be implemented properly.Sonowal said that as farming activities have beenexempted from lockdown and therefore the DCs must ensure thatfarmers do not face any difficulties.He also directed the district agriculture officers tomonitor the usage of tractors provided under the ChiefMinister's Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) andinstructed them to ensure that those tractors are only usedfor farming activities.Issuing the instruction for maintaining socialdistancing norms in the tea gardens and tea factories, Sonowaldirected the DCs to ask the estate managements to screenoutsiders visiting the factories for mechanical works or forsupplying spare parts for the machines.
He also asked the districts to look after thedifficulties faced by small tea growers and facilitate theirmovements.The agriculture department was also directed to ensurethat farmers produce does not get wasted and bridge the gapbetween the buyers and growers.The DCs were also directed to interact over the phonewith eminent personalities and leading citizens of theirdistricts to seek their feedback and suggestions about thevarious measures taken by the government during the lockdown.
He also appreciated the role played by DCs along withhealth, police, power department, public health engineeringdepartment (PHED) and other departments in the fight againstthe COVID-19. ESBSBN SBN