Lockdown 4.0: States Can Curb Eased Rules, But Can't Dilute Restrictions, Says MHA

MHA mentioned few guidelines that were about the opening up of the red zones to boost the economic activities and permit transportation to balance the fight against COVID-19 thereby limiting the economic damage.

Migrants travelling from Surat via a special train board a bus to reach their native places, during the ongoing COVID-19 nationwide lockdown, in Prayagraj. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: A day after Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended nationwide lockdown lifting several restrictions, the authority clarified that the modifications in guidelines does not allow States and Union Territories (UTs) to "dilute" the rules. For the same, MHA on Monday issued a fresh order to States/UTs instructing them "not to dilute" restrictions imposed under lockdown 4.0. In its Sunday release, MHA mentioned few guidelines that were about the opening up of the red zones to boost the economic activities and permit transportation to balance the fight against COVID-19 thereby limiting the economic damage. However, in the order, issued by the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to the Chief Secretaries of all states and UTs, it has mentioned that states and UTs cannot dilute restrictions imposed in the MHA guidelines and can only make them stricter based on the local level assessment and the Health Ministry guidelines.

Despite widespread relaxations in #Lockdown4 restrictions, States/UTs cannot dilute the restrictions imposed in MHA guidelines. Certain other activities can be prohibited or restrictions can be imposed, as deemed necessary: Home Ministry Read: https://t.co/eFfUcfF37M pic.twitter.com/pql6yhNypU

— PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 18, 2020

The MHA on Sunday issued revised guidelines regarding the lockdown enforced since March 25 to contain the COVID-19 virus. The Centre issued 12 modifications in the guidelines keeping in view the need to open up economic activities while containing the spread of COVID 19. According to the order effective from Monday May 18, the government will continue to prohibit operations of metro train services and domestic flights. Moreover, public places such as malls, gyms, worship areas to remain inaccessible for citizens. However, under the new guidelines, states and UTs would now "delineate the red, orange and green zones. Inside the red and orange zones, containment and buffer zones would be identified by the local authorities, based on local level technical inputs and Health Ministry guidelines. MHA mentioned that within the containment zones, strict perimeter would be maintained as earlier and only essential activities would be allowed. Limited activities would continue to be prohibited throughout the country but "all other activities would be permitted except the ones that are specifically prohibited under the MHA guidelines," the oficial statement mentioned. In view of these modified rules, the MHA has now directed that states and UTs that "despite widespread relaxations given in the lockdown restrictions under revised guidelines, they cannot dilute the restrictions imposed in the MHA guidelines". The the fresh notice on Monday, it stated that States/ UTs may prohibit "certain other activities or impose restrictions, as deemed necessary on the basis of ground level analysis of the situation but they must take into consideration the benchmarks and thresholds indicated in the revised guidelines issued by the MoHFW, while delineating zones at local level. The new nationwide lockdown was extended for the third time on Sunday, which was first imposed from March 25 and then extended from April 15 and May 4.