COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Orders, Amendment to Notification, 2020
The Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, issued G.O.Ms. No. 238, Revenue and Disaster Management (DMII), dated 15 May 2020, amending G.O.Ms. No. 217 dated 3 May 2020 and its later amendments. It relaxed certain COVID-19 restrictions until 17 May 2020 by permitting specified industrial activity with workforce limits and increasing permitted employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
What the notification does
G.O.Ms. No. 238, Revenue and Disaster Management (DMII), dated 15 May 2020, amended the COVID-19 restrictions issued through G.O.Ms. No. 217, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II) Department, dated 3 May 2020. The restrictions applied within the territorial jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu and had been extended up to 17 May 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The Government of Tamil Nadu based these changes on a note received from the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, who was also Chairman of the Expert Committee constituted to work out a phased exit strategy from lockdown.
Industrial activity permitted
The amendment changed Clause VII of the earlier restrictions. Its key provisions were:
- All industrial units, including textile units, could function in urban areas outside the Chennai City Police Commissionerate jurisdiction.
- Units permitted in those urban areas could operate with 50 per cent of workers in shifts and had to observe Standard Operating Procedures.
- All industrial activities, including textile industries, were allowed in Village Panchayat and Town Panchayat areas.
- Export oriented units could operate with 50 per cent strength across Tamil Nadu, except within the Chennai City Police Commissionerate jurisdiction.
- A separate sub-clause under Clause VII was omitted.
Rural employment change
G.O.Ms. No. 238 also replaced a provision under Clause IX (a). The permitted proportion of persons employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in rural areas was increased from 33 per cent to 50 per cent.
Who was affected
G.O.Ms. No. 238 directly affected industrial and textile units, export oriented units, their workers, and rural workers employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Location was important because different permissions applied to urban areas, Village and Town Panchayat areas, and the Chennai City Police Commissionerate jurisdiction.
For property buyers and owners, the notification did not change land ownership, title, registration, planning permission or land use. Its relevance was to the temporary operation of industrial activities and rural employment during the COVID-19 restriction period ending on 17 May 2020.
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Common questions
Did this notification allow factories to reopen across Tamil Nadu?
It permitted all industrial units, including textile units, in urban areas outside the Chennai City Police Commissionerate jurisdiction with 50 per cent of workers in shifts and compliance with Standard Operating Procedures. All industrial activities were also allowed in Village and Town Panchayat areas.
Could export oriented units operate in Chennai under this notification?
The notification permitted export oriented units with 50 per cent strength across Tamil Nadu, but excluded the Chennai City Police Commissionerate jurisdiction.
Does G.O.Ms. No. 238 change property ownership or land use?
No property ownership, title, registration, planning permission or land use change is stated. The notification concerns temporary COVID-19 operating restrictions for industries and rural employment.
What change was made to rural employment?
The permitted proportion of persons employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in rural areas was increased from 33 per cent to 50 per cent.
