Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has assured the people that robust arrangements have been made towards supply of essential commodities in State during the ongoing 21-day lockdown period. He took the opportunity to direct all district collectors to check black-marketing and profiteering of such commodities strictly.

In his message to the people, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude towards the people for complying with the 21-day lockdown in a disciplined manner. He said that maintaining social distancing is very necessary to break the virus chain. However, the State Government is ensuring that there will be no dearth of essential commodities during this period. He said that he is personally monitoring the situation.

The Chief Minister said that he came to know that during this lockdown, some businessmen are into black-marketing and profiteering taking advantage of this crisis situation and have increased the prices of essential commodities while some others have loomed into black-marketing, which is very unfortunate. He called upon businessmen and traders to desist from misusing such crisis situation and ensure supply and availability of essential commodities which people require on day-to-day basis.

He added that the State Government will in no way allow profiteering and black-marketing and all district collectors have been directed to strictly deal with such cases and ensure availability of commodities to people at fair price. The Chief Minister said that while some traders are fulfilling the criteria of social distancing very well which should be followed by others.

The collectors have also been directed to ensure that there is no hindrance in the transportation of essential commodities, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, food products, etc and people engaged in supply and transportation of such commodities shouldn’t be stopped. He also urged the workers engaged in reaping of crops to maintain social distancing. Chief Minister said that the Police Department is giving exemplary services during this hour of crisis, which is worth commendable.

He urged police administration to help in the transportation of essential commodities and food items and also assist those who are coming out of houses for purchasing such commodities. He also urged the administration to allow water-melon crops to be transported within city limits otherwise it would get destroyed. He also extended his gratitude to health personnel including doctors, nurses, technical staff who’re engaged round to clock to fight against the prevailing crisis. The Chief Minister said that respective district administrations are making arrangements of food packets and shelter for poor, destitutes and workers.

The Chief Minister called upon people to follow the instruction of lockdown religiously and only one person should come out if necessary. Social distancing should be followed strictly. He said that people should remember that if only one person remains affected from COVID-19 in Chhattisgarh, it wouldn’t save people from this pandemic. Hence every person who has undertaken foreign trip recently and people who have come into contact with such people, should immediately report to the Health Department or district administration.