Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: Taking serious note of indiscipline and quarantine norms violation by returnees at quarantine centres, Odisha government today said that such violators will face stern legal action.

The State government will not compromise with its ongoing fight against COVID-19 for a few people. The violators will be arrested and kept in quarantine away from their home districts, said Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on Sunday.

He further stated that the quarantine period for the persons resorting to any indiscipline or violating norms will be extended and they will also be deprived of the financial assistance from the government. Clear instructions have been issued to district Collectors, Sarpanchs and other field officials in this regard, said Tripathy.

At present, all the migrant workers and others returning to the State in buses are being allowed to enter through 12 check points. However, it has been learnt that several buses are violating route norms and travelling to other areas in the State other than the stipulated route.

"Some buses are also not following the prescribed vehicle module. They are travelling to other districts instead of the route prescribed in the stickers issued to them. Such vehicles will be seized for violating the prescribed route norm," said the Chief Secretary.

Besides, Tripathy warned that the buses found overcrowded and violating the prescribed route norms will not be allowed to enter the State.

Odisha has been able to contain the spread of COVID-19 so far due to strict compliance with the lockdown norms and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), said Tripathy adding, “Clear instructions have been issued to Sarpanchs and Collectors to ensure 100 per cent compliance of quarantine norms and to initiate legal action against violators from today, respectively.”

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