Nitesh Kumar Sahoo

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday said e-commerce and online platforms can resume operations in the second phase of the COVID-19 lockdown beginning from April 15.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena said that home delivery of all kinds of products and courier services by platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Blue Dart, DTDC and BigBasket will resume in the 2nd phase of the lockdown starting from 15th April till 30th April this year. Transportation of seeds, movement of tractor will also be allowed during 2nd phase of lockdown period. Vegetables will be procured directly from farmer producer organisations. All the cold storages and godowns will be kept open.

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Jena further informed that in view of the harvesting of Rabi crop and the upcoming Kharif season, the government has decided to exempt farming and the subsequent irrigation of the farm lands in the 2nd phase of lockdown. Movement of the equipment and vehicles like tractors will be allowed during this period. All the shops related to manure, sells and repair of agricultural equipment will also remain open.

Read: Extend Lockdown, Facilitate Agri Works But Suspend Rail & Air Services: Odisha CM To PM Modi

In a major respite for truckers and transporters, the roadside dhabas and restaurants will be allowed to open but only for take-away and home-delivery purposes.

Modifying the lockdown rules further, Jena said, “All the Co-Operative banks and LAMPSCS will remain open for the farmers to avail loans for the upcoming Kharif season. The programmes under MGNREGA, PMAY, Biju Pucca Ghar and Swachh Bharat will continue too.”

Odisha is the first state to extend the lockdown till April 30. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also had informed that the State government suggested the Union Government to shut down rail and air services till April 30.

Patnaik, who participated in the meeting online along with Chief Ministers of all other States on Saturday to discuss the coronavirus situation in the country, suggested PM Modi that the nationwide lockdown be extended till April 30 to contain the rising COVID-19 cases from spiralling more.

Besides, all the educational institutions, including schools and colleges in the State will continue to remain closed till June 17, Patnaik had said in a video message.

Earlier, the government had given permission for delivery of food through online delivery operators and grocery by several outlets.

Also Read: COVID19 Lockdown: ECoR Continues Delivery Of Essential Goods In Odisha

Odisha has reported 55 coronavirus positive cases so far. Of these, 13 have recovered whereas one person succumbed to the disease. Now, the active cases are 41 in the state.

(With Agency Inputs)

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