Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday announced major relaxation from restrictions in lockdown 4.0, including opening of liquor shops and resumption of inter-State and intra-State taxi services. Private offices and bookstores will also open during this period, he said.
In a video released by the Chief Minister's Office, Soren said that the Government has planned the relaxations in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). "While we fight this virus, it is also our responsibility to focus on the economy. Private offices, liquor stores and factories will open during lockdown 4.0," said Soren.
Since CBSE students will soon appear for examinations, the Government has decided to keep all the bookstores open during this period, said Soren. The CM also announced resumption of e-commerce services in lockdown 4.0. Construction activities, which came to a standstill since the lockdown was imposed, will also resume, he added.
Warehouses, godowns, service centres of electrical appliances will also be functional during this phase of lockdown, Soren said. "All other activities which were permitted earlier will also continue. Agriculture, transportation of goods and sale of essential items will continue," he said.
The services, however, will not be permitted in containment zones across the State. The number of containment zones in Jharkhand has increased from 33 to 63 in the course of a fortnight, officials said. More than 1 lakh people live in these containment zones here, they added.
The opening of liquor stores assumes significance due to its economical aspect, sources said. The revenue earned from sale of liquor has come down to zero in Jharkhand since the nationwide lockdown was imposed in wake of Covid-19 pandemic, officials said. Last month, Chief Secretary Sukhdeo Singh told The Pioneer that the State's focus at present was to check the spread of the virus. He had admitted that the Excise revenue was zero during the lockdown period – an added burden on a State that is already suffering from lack of funds in its coffers.