New Delhi: The Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to states and Union territories to ensure that there is total compliance to lockdown 4.0 rules which come into effect from today. India has entered its fourth phase of a lockdown or Lockdown 4.0 from today with greater relaxations than the previous three ones. Lockdown 4.0 will continue till May 31.

According to a report by ANI, Bhalla wrote to the state authorities to not dilute the guidelines.

“I would urge you to ensure compliance with the new guidelines and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation. Further guidelines issued by the MHA and consequent orders issued by the respective state governments/ UT administrations should be widely disseminated to the public and the field functionaries for the convenience of the people,” said Bhalla in the report.

In an order issued by the Government of India under the Disaster Management Act 2005, the Home Ministry released new guidelines to regulate and monitor different activities in Lockdown 4.0. Bhalla said that states and UT’s can prohibit certain activities according to the situation in different zones but cannot dilute the guidelines issued by the MHA.

He also reiterated that according to the guidelines, red, orange, and green zones will be created in every state and UT. This will be based on the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued on May 17.

He said Inside Red and orange zones containment and buffers zones will be identified by the district administration/ local urban bodies with technical inputs at the local level and by taking into consideration the health ministry.”

IN the new guidelines the Centre has issued 12 modifications keeping in view the need to open up economic activities while containing the spread of COVID 19.