Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Those hoarding, black marketeeri­ng masks, sanitisers will be punished, says Dushyant

- HT Correspond­ent

HISAR: Deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala on Monday said strict action will be taken against those found to be stockpilin­g on masks, hand washes and sanitisers and selling them at prohibitiv­e prices in the black market.

Demand for these items has been soaring since the novel coronaviru­s (Covid-19) outbreak.

Dushyant, who was in Sirsa, said, the state government had directed all district food and supply officers (DFSO) to check medical stores for availabili­ty of masks, hand washes and hand sanitisers.

“Sellers are not permitted to hoard these items in order to sell them in the black market. DFSOS will check all the medical stores in Haryana and take strict action against those found to be selling masks, hand wash and hand sanitisers at inflated prices.”

Chief secretary Keshni Anand Arora said in case of a Covid-19 outbreak, private hospitals can be acquired and patients will be treated there at the prices applicable at government institutio­ns.

“In case of a shortage of doctors and nurses, the services of retired doctors and nurses can be availed. A daily training programme for all government and non-government health workers should be held ,” Arora said.

CHEMIST SHOP SEALED FOR HOARDING

MASKS IN KARNAL

KARNAL: A chemist’s shop was sealed for hoarding hand sanitisers and masks, five others were issued notices for selling the same at inflated prices amid a novel coronaviru­s (Covid-19) outbreak here on Monday.

Masks and hand sanitisers have been declared essential commoditie­s and nodal officers have been appointed to check the stock and prices of masks and sanitisers. Six teams have been formed to monitor realtors and implement the government’s instructio­ns.

A team led by Karnal deputy commission­er Nishant Yadav raided several chemist’s shops on Monday. The owner of the sealed pharmacy had been unable to furnish receipts for his stock of masks and sanitisers.

An ayurvedic sanitiser manufactur­ing unit in Sector 3 was also raided. Samples were collected and sent for examinatio­n. The DC said action will be taken against the unit’s owners if the sanitisers were found to be ineffectiv­e. The DC said so far no suspected patients had been found positive for Covid-19 in the district, five people have been tested negative and the reports of one person were awaited. As many as 17 people with a travel history to countries affected by coronaviru­s were under the observatio­n in Karnal.

The DC said 10 thermal sensers will be installed at the Karnal bus stand, railway station, court complex and mini secretaria­t to screen suspected cases.

CHEMIST SHOPS, AYURVEDIC SANITISER MANUFACTUR­ING UNITS RAIDED, FIVE

ISSUED NOTICES

DEEPENDER HOODA CANCELS ALL RALLIES TILL MARCH 31

Senior Congress leader Deepender Hooda closed both his offices in Rohtak and Delhi till March 31. In a video message, the former Rohtak MP said he had decided to stall all programmes till March 31 to avoid mass gathering.

“After consulting with doctors and specialist­s, I have decided to not hold any mass gathering for the next two weeks. I appeal people to take precaution­ary measures to stop this disease from spreading,” he said.

 ??  ?? Dushyant Chautala
Dushyant Chautala

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