G.O. Ms. No. 174, COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Amendment, 2020
The Government of Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department issued G.O. Ms. No. 174 on 28 March 2020 to amend G.O. (Ms.) No. 172 concerning statewide COVID-19 prevention and containment measures. G.O. (Ms.) No. 172 had superseded G.O. Ms. No. 152 and applied for 21 days from 25 March 2020, while the amendment expands exceptions for farming, agricultural markets, essential shops, agricultural manufacturing and movement of farm machinery.
Purpose and legal effect
G.O. Ms. No. 174, issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department on 28 March 2020, amends the exceptions in G.O. (Ms.) No. 172 dated 25 March 2020. The earlier order had superseded G.O. Ms. No. 152 of the Health and Family Welfare Department and introduced statewide measures for 21 days from 25 March 2020 to prevent and contain COVID-19.
The amendment follows an addendum issued by the Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs and a proposal from the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration.
Who is affected
The changes in G.O. Ms. No. 174 affect farmers, farm workers, agricultural procurement agencies, agricultural markets, essential goods shops, agricultural input manufacturers and operators moving farm machinery. District authorities are also authorised to encourage and facilitate home delivery so that fewer people need to leave their homes.
For property buyers and owners, the notification deals with temporary COVID-19 operating exceptions. It does not contain provisions about land ownership, registration, planning permission or change of land use.
Key provisions
G.O. Ms. No. 174 adds or revises the following exceptions:
- Agencies procuring agricultural products, including MSP operations, may operate.
- Mandis operated by Agriculture Produce Market Committees are included as an exception.
- Permitted shops include ration shops under PDS and FCI operations and shops dealing in food, groceries, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, milk, meat, fish and animal fodder.
- Shops selling seeds, pesticides and fertilisers are included among the permitted shops.
- District authorities may encourage and facilitate home delivery to reduce movement outside homes.
- Farmers and farm workers may carry out farming operations in fields.
- Custom Hiring Centres connected with farm machinery are included as an exception.
- Units manufacturing and packaging fertilisers, pesticides and seeds are included as an exception.
- Intra-state and inter-state movement of harvesting and related machines, including combined harvesters and other agricultural or horticultural implements, is permitted under an added exception.
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Common questions
Could farmers and farm workers continue working in fields?
Yes. G.O. Ms. No. 174 adds farming operations by farmers and farm workers in fields as an exception.
Were shops selling seeds, pesticides and fertilisers allowed to operate?
Yes. The amended shop exception includes seeds, pesticides and fertilisers. Manufacturing and packaging units for those products are also included as an exception.
Could agricultural machinery move between districts or states?
The notification permits intra-state and inter-state movement of harvesting and related machines, including combined harvesters and other agricultural or horticultural implements.
Does G.O. Ms. No. 174 change land ownership or planning rules?
No such changes appear in the notification. It amends COVID-19 restrictions by adding exceptions mainly for agriculture, essential shops, manufacturing and farm machinery movement.
