Aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, the government of Tamil Nadu on Friday announced complete lockdown for four days in five districts-- Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and three days in Salem and Tiruppur from Sunday.
Major private diaries operating in the state- Thirumala, Jersey, Heritage and Dodla- requested the government to grant permission to allow retail shops to remain open "for sale of milk for two hours during the complete lockdown".
Though the dairy companies can supply the milk to shops, they would not be available to public as the shops would be closed due to complete lockdown, the companies said in a press release.
"If dairy companies are not able to sell they would not be able to procure milk which would have an impact on farmers who are dependent on sourcing...," they said.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Friday while announcing the complete lockdown said, "the lockdown will be fully implemented in the Corporation areas of Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai from 6 am on April 26 till 9 pm on April 29."
Salem and Tirupur Corporation zones will see similar complete lockdown between Sunday 6 am and Tuesday April 28, 9 pm, he had said.
The government has clarified that supply of AAVIN milk run by the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd would be available to public during the lockdown.
Tamil Nadu has reported 1,755 coronavirus cases so far while 22 people have lost their lives in the state.
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