G.O.Ms.No.314, Complete Lockdown in Madurai Corporation and Adjoining Areas, 2020

Purpose and coverage

The Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II) Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu issued G.O.Ms.No.314, dated 22 June 2020, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It imposed a seven-day complete lockdown from 00 hours on 24 June 2020 to midnight on 30 June 2020 because of increasing COVID-19 cases.

The lockdown covered:

• Madurai Corporation.
• Paravai Town Panchayat.
• All village panchayats in Madurai East Block.
• All village panchayats in Madurai West Block.
• All village panchayats in Thiruparankundram Block.

Services and activities permitted

G.O.Ms.No.314 allowed only identified essential and limited activities during the lockdown. Key permissions included:

• Hospitals, medical laboratories, pharmacies, ambulances, hearse vehicles and related medical activities.
• State and Central Government offices with attendance limited to 33 percent, while essential departments could use required staff.
• Public Distribution System shops from 8 A.M. to 2 P.M., except within containment zones.
• Vegetable shops, grocery shops, petrol bunks and mobile vegetable and fruit units from 6 A.M. to 2 P.M., subject to social distancing restrictions.
• Hotel and restaurant takeaway and food delivery from 6 A.M. to 8 P.M. Tea shops were not permitted.
• Milk distribution, drinking water supply, movement of goods and vehicles carrying essential commodities.
• Amma Canteens, government and local body community kitchens, courts, media and approved public service organisations.
• Construction work using labour already staying at the work site.

Private vehicles, autos and taxis were generally prohibited, except for medical emergencies and specified passenger transport from railway stations and airports.

Additional restrictions

G.O.Ms.No.314 required an even stricter shutdown from midnight on 27 June 2020 to 6 A.M. on 29 June 2020. During that period, only milk distribution, hospitals, pharmacies, hospital vehicles, ambulances and hearse vehicles were allowed, with private vehicles permitted only for medical emergencies.

No activities were permitted in containment zones. Local administrations had to deliver essential supplies, disinfect affected areas twice daily and support house-to-house surveys, fever camps and testing. Masks, hand hygiene and social distancing were compulsory for permitted activities.

Relevance to property and industry

For property owners, contractors and developers, G.O.Ms.No.314 permitted construction only where labour was already present at the site. Industrial workers covered by the lockdown area could not travel daily and generally had to be tested once by RTPCR and accommodated at or near the industrial premises. Continuous process industries and industries manufacturing essential commodities could operate with safety measures.