Chandigarh, Apr 23 (KNN) Amid growing concerns amongst the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) fearing dire consequences for any worker getting infected with Coronavirus while working in industry permitted to operate during lockdown, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar assured that no FIRs will be filed against the unit holders.

Khattar said no FIR will be registered against any unit owner, who has been given permission to restart unit during the lockdown, if any of their worker gets coronavirus positive.

Many state governments had decided to give conditional relaxations to the industries in select sectors outside the hotspots to start the economic activities amid the lockdown as per the Centre's guidelines.

Updating people about the Covid situation in the state and steps taken to control it, Khattar, in a televised address, touched upon the permission given to the industries while following conditions like ensuring social distancing and the number of people who can work in units at a given time etc.

The chief minister informed that 1,800 units involved in production of items of essential need had earlier been given permission but now 106 more units have been given permission, which would employ nearly 18,000 workforce.

Khattar assured that all those units which restart functioning with due permission and following all guidelines of the Centre and the state government need not worry.

“I want to make it clear that if any industry seeks permission to start their unit and if any employee working there tests Covid positive, no action or FIR will be registered against the owner.

“A rumour was spread that FIR will be registered against those unit owners if an employee working there tests positive,” he said.

The current lockdown, imposed to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, will be in force till May 3.

For carrying out the operations of industries and other establishments, Haryana Government had decided to constitute committees at block, town and city levels to scrutinize and approve applications.

In rural areas, the committee issues passes for industries and other establishments employing up to 25 people.

Meanwhile, the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) has put on its website the list of Nodal Officers fr0m HSIIDC for addressing grievance related to issue of passes for opening the establishments.

The list can be viewed at: https://hsiidc.org.in/sites/default/files/media/E%20Documents/List%20of%20grievance%20Officers.pdf