Can states dilute Lockdown 4.0 guidelines? No, says Home Ministry

Inside the red and orange zones, containment and buffer zones will be identified by the district administration and local urban bodies

The Home Ministry said on Monday that state or Union Territory can not dilute the guidelines issued for the fourth phase of nationwide lockdown that will continue till May 31.

In a communication to the chief secretaries of the states and Union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the guidelines for the fourth phase of the lockdown were issued after taking the views of the states, following a video-conference held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with chief ministers on May 11.

"As emphasised in my earlier letters, I would like to reiterate again that States and Union Territories cannot