After flip-flop, Karnataka to stay locked till May 3

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bengaluru, April 19, 2020: In a flip-flop within hours on Saturday, the Karnataka government retracted its plans to allow movement of two-wheelers in non-Covid hotspots and to extend permission for IT-BT firms to operate with 33% staff.

Earlier in the day, it decided to ease lockdown restrictions in non-Covid hotspots across the state after April 20. It had allowed movement of goods vehicles that transport essential commodities and construction materials and permitted select industries, including construction sector, to function with 33% staff and government offices to be open with 33% staff under the roster system and arrange exclusive buses to transport them. All persons at work were to mandatorily wear masks.

The change in mind was reportedly under pressure from the police department. It decided to allow only employees under critical missions and essential services to function and confirmed that the rest would have to work from home. The government also did a U-turn on allowing two-wheelers in non-hotspots.

“Restrictions on inter-state movement of people and cars, barring those with passes, will continue till May 3. Inter-district movement of vehicles will not be permitted, barring between Ramanagara, Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts,” CM BS Yediyurappa said.

‘Industries in villages, SEZs can open’
Industries will be permitted to function in clusters in villages and special economic zones or industrial townships in urban areas. There will be no restriction on transportation of essential goods, as well as construction material like gravel, sand, cement and steel.

The lockdown, however, will be implemented more strictly in containment zones or hotspots. The government has identified 32 zones in Bengaluru and eight districts. “An incident commander with magisterial powers will be appointed in each zone and he/ she will be assisted by police and health officials. They’ll be responsible for containing crowd movement and providing basic amenities in these areas,” the CM said.

People won’t be allowed to step out of their homes and essential items will be supplied. Areas in a 3-km radius of a containment zone will be a buffer zone where medical check-ups will be done.

The restrictions on sale of liquor and prohibitory orders under Section 144 will continue till May 3.

Farmers will get new farm loans from the state and an official notification will be issued in two days, said cooperative minister ST Somashekhar in Davanagere.

He said a circular would be issued to all private banks and finance companies that gave loans to farmers to purchase vehicles and other agriculture equipment.