The East Singhbhum district administration is pushing for doorstep delivery of essentials and has shut OPDs at all government hospitals to enforce the lockdown in the steel city.

After starting doorstep delivery of groceries, milk and bread from Wednesday, the district administration has announced delivery of vegetables to houses from Friday.

“We have held talks with a private agency for the delivery of fresh vegetables. We are also in talks with agencies for starting doorstep delivery of medicines and sanitizers. The objective is to provide all facilities to residents at their homes so that they do not have to step out,” East Singhbhum deputy commissioner (DC) Ravi Shankar Shukla said.

Dhalbhum subdivisional officer (SDO) Chandan Kumar said Sakchi’s All Seasons Farm Fresh had agreed to deliver vegetables at a delivery charge of Rs 20 on a minimum order of Rs 200.

“The prices of vegetables are listed on their website allseasonsfarmfresh.com. The order can be placed either online or through their WhatsApp number 9934868425 and 9031776552.. They will function between 8am and 10pm and will deliver an order within five hours of placing it. The objective is to stop hoarding and check the rise in prices of vegetables,” Kumar said.

OPDs at all government health centres, including MGM Medical College and Hospital, have been shut on the directive of principal health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni.“We have closed all OPDs at Sadar hospital in Khasmahal, community and primary health centres and Ghatshila sub-divisional hospital to avoid overcrowding. Emergency services will continue,” East Singhbhum civil surgeon Dr Maheshwar Prasad said.

MGM hospital superintendent Dr Sanjay Kumar said they were planning to start an OPD for respiratory diseases.

The emergency and other departments at MGM hospital will continue to function as usual.