DDMA forms 12-member panel to suggest measures to help people, businesses during COVID-19 crisis in Delhi

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday constituted a committee to suggest measures to help people and businesses in the times of the COVID-19 crisis.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Thursday constituted a 12-member committee to suggest measures to help people and businesses in the times of the COVID-19 crisis. 

The committee will give suggest detailed measures on how to deal with the damage caused to Delhi's economy due to the COVID-19 crisis. The committee will also make a comprehensive analysis and give suggestions about measures to be taken by various departments, autonomous bodies, local bodies and MCDs to help people and businesses in times of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Jasmine Shah, the vice-chairman of Delhi's Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), will head the committee.

The other members of this committee are the Commissioner of Labour Department, Department of Industries, SDMC, Special Secretary of Environment Department and representatives of trade, manufacturing, automobile and hospitality including various industries.

Regarding the formation of this panel, the DDMA order said that the committee will explore reform measures to make trading in Delhi easier and improve the process of economic recovery with the effect of COVID-19.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is led by Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal. It may be noted that DDMA had on Wednesday said that considering the COVID-19 situation in the national capital, it has decided to maintain the status quo in the metropolis for Unlock 2.

The only modification has been in the timing of night curfew, which will now stay in place from 10 pm to 5 am in the place of 9 pm to 5 am.

"The situation of COVID-19 in Delhi has been assessed and in view of the present scenarios, it has been decided to maintain status-quo in NCT of Delhi in the larger public interest, except modifying the timing of night curfew on the movement of individuals from 10 pm to 5 am in the place of 9 pm to 5 am," the DDMA said in its order.

In its order, the DDMA said that the national capital territory is "threatened with the spread of COVID-19 epidemic, which has already been declared as a pandemic by the WHO and has considered it necessary to take effective measures to prevent its spread in NCT of Delhi.

"It added that the DDMA had extended the lockdown in containment zones through an order dated June 30 and also specified prohibited and permissible activities throughout NCT of Delhi.

A total of 2,442 COVID-19 cases and 61 deaths were reported in the national capital on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 89,802 in Delhi, the health department said. According to the official data, 1,644 were cured and discharged today. 

The total number of cases includes 27,007 active cases, 59,992 cured and 2,803 deaths.