Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday declared all but nine districts as Red Zones in J&K.
According to an order issued by B.V.R.Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary and Chairperson State Executive Committee (NDMA), all districts in Kashmir except Ganderbal and Bandipora will continue to be red zones.
Similarly, Kathua, Samba and Ramban districts of Jammu division have been declared Red Zones.
Bandipora, Ganderbal, Reasi, Udhampur and Jammu districts have been declared Orange Zones while Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri districts as Green Zones.
The directions were been issued in light of the Government of India’s May 17 order, authorizing States and UT Governments to delineate districts into Red, Orange and Green category after taking into consideration parameters laid down by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.
“This categorization of districts into Red, Orange and Green will be followed for the purposes of implementation of permitted activities in the respective districts, as per a separate order, to be issued by the State Executive Committee (SEC),” he said as per global news service, adding, “This classification of districts will be reviewed periodically and any further modifications will be made by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir keeping in view any further developments or instructions from MoHFW/ MHA.”
It added that a detailed review of the current COVID-19 situation in J&K was conducted with Financial Commissioner, Health; Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir divisions and other officers on the basis of “an overall assessment of the situation pertaining to the spread of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir; the trend in new cases particularly the recent spread/ spike in new cases in view of the movement of stranded persons to Jammu and Kashmir, which is still a continuing exercise, and the risk perception of the Health department vis-à-vis each district; the parameters laid down by MOHFW, Govt. of India,”.
The order said that Chief secretary in exercise of the powers conferred under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, hereby orders that the classification of districts into Red, Orange and Green categories be made for Jammu and Kashmir.
“This categorization of districts into Red, Orange and Green will be followed for the purposes of implementation of permitted activities in the respective districts, as per a separate order, to be issued by the State Executive Committee,” the order reads.