Hyderabad: The Union home ministry has amended the country-wide lockdown rules for allowing fishing and aquaculture activities, the key amendment being that workers will maintain social distancing while undertaking operations.
In a circular to all states and Union territories, the home ministry has permitted undertaking of operations by the marine fishing industry; aquaculture, including feeding, maintenance, harvesting, processing, packaging, cold chain, sale and marketing; hatcheries and feed plants; commercial aquaria, and movement of fish, shrimp and fish products, including fish seed and feed.
Movement of workers involved in all these operations is also permitted.
As specified under lockdown measures, social distancing and proper hygiene practices must be ensured while undertaking each of the activities mentioned and permitted by earlier orders.
Heads of organisations and establishments will be held responsible for ensuring compliance of all norms. Respective district authorities will ensure strict enforcement of these orders, the Union home secretary said.
The Union finance ministry has also issued a circular granting tax exemptions for procurement of ventilators and other items following the coronavirus threat.
The circular said the central government is granting exemption of basic customs duty and health cess on import of ventilators, face masks, surgical masks, personal protection equipment (PPE), Covid-19 test kits, and inputs for manufacture of these items.
The basic customs duty exemption will come into force with immediate effect and shall be available up to September 30, 2020.
