Chandigarh March 21- Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal said that during ‘Janta Curfew’ i.e on Sunday tomorrow, essential commodities including Grocery shops, petrol pumps, Chemist will remain open. He urged the State people not to fear and panic rather strongly adhere to the appeal of ‘Janta Curfew’ on March 22, 2020, made by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi for protection against the Novel Corona virus.

The Chief Minister gave these directions while presiding over a review meeting with all Deputy Commissioners, District Food and Supplies Controllers and grocery wholesalers, retailers and vendors through video conferencing here today. During the meeting, Chief Minister issued various directions in view of the need to meet the potential challenges posed by the Corona virus.

The Chief Minister directed that the Deputy Commissioners will ensure in their respective districts that there is no shortage of any essential commodities and there is no unnecessary increase in wholesale and grocery rates of essential commodities and all necessary steps should be taken to stop profiteering and hoarding. Apart from this, if necessary, all the Deputy Commissioners can take necessary action in their districts to close such establishments which are not connected with essential goods and services.

The Chief Minister urged that in this need of the hour, the people associated with all types of business located in the State should take special care of their employees who are on leave in this period and treat them as their families by following a humanitarian approach by not deducting their salary and providing them full support.

He said that as Rabi procurement-2020 is now going to start from April 1, therefore in order to prevent the mass gathering of people in the grain markets, a staggering arrangement for the arrival of wheat should also be considered.

The Chief Minister said that all the Deputy Commissioners should also discourage ‘Panic buying’ in their respective areas so that people do not buy excess goods and apart from this, they should also make the public aware that the normal supply of essential goods will continue.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government will ensure that there is no obstruction in the supply and transportation of essential commodities and all necessary support will be given to the traders. He said that to overcome the risk of the spread of the virus, all merchants should promote cashless transactions in place of cash, as numerous necessary steps have already been taken by the State Government to promote cashless transactions.

The Chief Minister directed the District Deputy Commissioners to make public awareness in their respective districts that they should not pay attention to any rumors.

In the meeting, Chief Secretary, Mrs. Keshni Anand Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Mr. Dhanpat Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department, Mr. P.K Das, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Mr. Rajiv Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Mr. T. V. S. N. Prasad, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. V. Umashankar and other senior officers were present.