New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus, concerns are high among people over availability of essential goods and services.
PM Modi’s announcement of lockdown from Tuesday midnight led to panic-buying of essential items in different parts of the country.
The prime minister appealed to people not to panic, saying thronging shops will pose the risk of spread of COVID-19.
"There is absolutely no need to panic; the Centre and states will work together to ensure availability of essential commodities, medicines, etc," he said.
However, people fearing shortage and rise in prices of the commodities queued up in front of grocery stores, vegetable vendors and medical shops.
Hectic-buying of food items which started after the 'Janta curfew' on Sunday and announcement of lockdown by state governments intensified shortly after the prime minister announced the nationwide lockdown on Tuesday.
The people feared that restrictions would only intensify further due to the coronavirus threat in the coming days, and the shortage of food items would accentuate.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued guidelines to be followed during the 21-day complete lockdown, assuring that fair price shops and those dealing with food, groceries, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, animal fodder will remain open.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has asked state governments to check the spread of rumours about shortage of food and other essential commodities.
In a communication to chief secretaries and DGPs of all states, the ministry asked them to take action to allay apprehensions and maintain peace and tranquillity, and inform people about the availability of food, medicine and other essential commodities.
The ministry said that in the wake of the orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (for lockdown), there were possibilities of rumour-mongering, including those about shortage of food and other essential services and commodities.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said authorities will ensure essential services during the lockdown period and requested people not to panic.
"We will issue e-passes to vegetable-sellers, grocers among others to ensure essential supplies during the lockdown," Kejriwal said at a joint press conference with Lt Governor Anil Baijal, amid reports of alleged harassment of vegetable sellers by the police.
"We will ensure strict implementation of lockdown in Delh," Baijal said.
Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the government is monitoring the availability of essential commodities in the market.
Paswan warned manufacturers and traders against profiteering during this period.
The Centre is also in touch with the state governments to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities, he said.
"In view of situation emerging from the threat of #Covid19India, the government is keeping an eye on availability of all essential commodities in the market," Paswan tweeted.
"I appeal to all manufacturers and traders to avoid profiteering in this situation," Paswan said.