Shillong, June 25 – The Meghalaya government has issued a directive stating that “distant relatives and friends†of the residents would not be allowed to enter the State in view of restrictions imposed as a measure to check the spread of corona virus, given the surge in overall infection in the country, including neighbouring Assam.
“In view of restriction on inter-state movement of persons due to the COVID-19 pandemic still being observed by the State, persons who are permanent residents of Meghalaya and those who are working in government establishments and public sector undertakings are presently being allowed to enter the State after registration on the portal,†Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya (Political department), C.V.D. Diengdoh has written to all the Deputy Commissioners in the various districts of the State.
In a notification issued on Wednesday, Diengdoh informed the Deputy Commissioners that it has been brought to the notice of the government that there are persons who are entering the State without seeking prior permission and/or those who do not belong to the above category.
“Only the immediate family members of the above category of persons are allowed to enter, not distant relatives/friends etc,â€Diengdoh clarified, even as he instructed Deputy Commissioners to ensure that there is strict monitoring and screening of all persons entering the State, the Secretary stated that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) was developing an online portal whereby deputy commissioners would be authorized to issue permissions for all categories of persons entering the State.
“No person will be allowed to enter who has not obtained the prior permission of the deputy commissioners concerned or the government as the case may be,†the official notification, copies of which were also sent to the Director General of Police and all Superintendents of Police,†Diengdoh specified in his notification.
The State government has also urged people from outside to refrain from coming to Meghalaya until the situation improves and inter-state movement is allowed.
Meghalaya, which till date has registered 46 COVID-19 positive cases, including one death, has 3 active cases as of now besides 42 recoveries.
