New Delhi, Apr 12 (IANS): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday allowed godowns (warehouses) and cold storages to store any goods as it exempted them from the lockdown while directing states and Union Territories to follow the measures as well as ensuring movement of employees of manufacturing units of essential goods.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla gave the instructions in a fresh letter to the state and UT Chief Secretaries and authorities on Sunday.

He reminded the states and UTs to ensure the movement of inter-state and intra-state cargo movement of essential goods.

"Union Home Ministry on Sunday again issued clarification to the state and Union Territory (UT) governments instructing that there is no restriction on inter-state or intra-state cargo movement of essential items or any other items," a ministry official said in a press briefing.

"Godowns and cold storages can store any kind of goods. The godowns inside the company premises are also under exempted category. It is also directed to all state authorities to ensure the movement of employees of the manufacturing units of essential goods."

The instruction came just two days ahead of the end of the nationwide lockdown, with no word yet about its future. The movement of essential goods and services are exempted from the lockdown measures while violations are punishable under the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code as per the Home Ministry's consolidated guidelines.