Agartala: Amid a burgeoning number of COVID-19 positive cases across India, the Tripura Government has declared a complete lockdown on July 5, next. By doing so, the BJP led Government is looking to emulate the success of the Janata Curfew called by PM Modi on Sunday, May 22.
"In our state, the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has already begun. In the times to come, subsequent stages of the pandemic may arise, and thus, we have to prepare ourselves to fight the battle against this disease", Biplab said yesterday evening in a video.
Biplab informed that the Government has decided to impose a state-wide lockdown on July 5 and urged the people to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations put in place by the administration. He also added that the "emergency services" in the state will continue to operate during the course of the lockdown.
Deb also stood firm in regards to the Government's decision on the recruitment of 1,100 Special Police Officers (SPOs) amidst salary cuts and retrenchments everywhere else and added that the development agenda of the Government has not taken a backseat during the pandemic period.
The CM encouraged Tripura citizens to make "eco-friendly" bamboo containers for kitchens and said that the state is expected to capitalize on the bamboo market in the days to come. He urged the youth to take up such vocations and become self-reliant.
Deb also intoned that the welfare activities of the Government are on in full swing. "If I were the Chief Minister of Tripura for the past 20 years, the state wouldn't have been dependant on the Centre today", Deb stated.
Meanwhile, the government has also increased penalties for not adhering to the restrictions such as wearing of masks, spitting, and urinating in open, informed Cabinet Spokesperson and Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath said.
Tripura's decision to impose a single day lockdown has come at a time when several of the Northeast Indian states continue to observe stringent rules in a bid to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which has continued to its rampant spread in the Central Government's 'Unlock' phase.
The state has so far registered 1,388 COVID-19 cases, out of which 301 are active, says Union Health Ministry data. A single casualty has been reported so far.