MHA asks states, UTs to ensure smooth cargo movements

NEW DELHI: Union home ministry on Sunday directed the states and UTs to ensure smooth movement of inter, intrastate cargo, workers and functioning of warehouse even as the commerce ministry urged them to allow “more activities with reasonable safeguards to improve economic activity and provide liquidity in the hands of people”.

“Restrictions, with regard to activities specifically permitted by MHA, have the potential of creating shortages of essential commodities. Interstate and intra-state movement of all trucks and other goods, carrier vehicles with one driver and one additional person is allowed as long as the driver is carrying a valid driver’s license.This is irrespective of the nature of the cargo, whether essential or otherwise. No further permit or approval would be required,” the home ministry stated in its latest communication.

“MSMEs engaged in the manufacture of essential items like wheat flour, pulses and edible oils should be allowed to function freely, without any hindrances. Warehouses, cold storage should be allowed to freely function with allowance for to and fro movement of trucks and without regard to the nature of the goods, whether essential or otherwise. Warehouses of companies should also be allowed to operate,” it further noted.

Government sources said the letter from commerce ministry is part of a “routine process” of sending feedback based on interaction with the industry. In its letter, the department for promotion of industry and internal trade has recommended opening up of “new activities in addition to those already allowed… while adhering to proper hygiene, sanitation and social distancing.”

Earlier, the home ministry exempted supply chain and manufacturing of essential goods, tea plantations. However, the states informed the Centre that due to the absence of adequate labour force, production in several of these sectors took a hit.

Agencies

Thirteen lakh migrant workers have been displaced and are living in over 27,661 shelter camps across the states and Union Territories, according to a home ministry official. “To overcome the labour force problems, we have advised the states to utilise industrial and farm workers staying at the relief camps while adhering to hygiene and social distancing,” a senior MHA official told ET. The states are also concerned about the harvesting of rabi crop, including its movement to markets as agricultural operations are time bound.

“The harvesting period of wheat is approaching in several northern states. Combine harvesters and their movement within the state and between the states is permitted. Precautions and safety measures of workers engaged in repair, maintenance and harvesting operation has to be ensured by the state governments,” said the official. In its advisory, the Centre said for manual field operations of harvesting and picking, farm workers are advised to accomplish the operation maintaining a distance 4-5 feet. It advised to assign one strip of land to one person to ensure adequate spacing between labourers.

“All the persons engaged should wear masks and wash hands with soap at reasonable intervals. Maintain safe distance of 3-4 feet while taking rest, during meals, transferring of produce at collection points, loading and unloading,” stated the directives. During cleaning, grading, sorting and packaging operations at the farm-level, workers have been advised to wear protective face mask that may help against aerosols and dust particles and thus minimise respiratory difficulties.