In the past 40 days, Punjab had witnessed three peaks in the Covid curve, noted the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday adding that it may not be possible to lift the lockdown completely for some more time.
“The State will examine the recommendations of the Expert Committee and the prevailing ground situation,” said the Chief Minister while adding that the report by the Expert Committee is expected to be submitted by Saturday.
Capt Amarinder said: “In Punjab, of the 22 districts, five are currently in ‘green zone’. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to consult with the Chief Ministers of all States on the issue of lifting the lockdown through a video conference on Monday.”
“I would go by the advice of the Expert Committee, set up to formulate Punjab’s lockdown exit strategy in the matter of opening up the state,” said the Chief Minister during a webinar with leading industrialists, economic experts and diplomats or ambassadors of various countries.
The Chief Minister said that any decision on lifting the lockdown or curfew would be taken basis the recommendations of 20-member Expert Committee, which is expected to submit its report on Saturday.
Reiterating that his priority was saving the lives of Punjabis, the Chief Minister said: “The life of my Punjabis is more important…Factories can be restarted but we can’t get people back.”
If the Expert Committee, which includes medical experts and doctors, recommends opening up, either partially or completely, we will do so, he said, in response to questions.
“I will go by their advice,” he declared, but made it clear that the health of the people was the priority, even though the State Government was aware that the lockdown could not be kept in place indefinitely.
The Chief Minister, during the webinar, extended his condolences to the Italian ambassador, Vincenzo de Luca, for the large number of lives lost in their country due to Covid pandemic. The envoy, on his part, expressed solidarity with the people of Punjab in their fight against the coronavirus.
CAPT DIRECTS INDUSTRIES DEPTT, DCs TO GIVE APPROVAL, CURFEW PASSES FOR REOPENING TO ELIGIBLE INDUSTRY WITHIN 12 HOURS
Assuring the industry of his government’s full support in these difficult times, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday directed the Department of Industries and District Industries Centres functioning under the Deputy Commissioners to provide all industrial units eligible to reopen with requisite approvals, along with required curfew passes, within 12 hours of applying.
Capt Amarinder also assured them that he would raise the issue of Central support for industry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the video conferencing convened by the latter with all chief ministers on Monday.
At a webinar, participated by nearly 100 industry stalwarts, foreign ambassadors or diplomats and others, the Chief Minister said that he had already requested the Central Government to find innovative solutions to support industry in this difficult time so that they could continue to pay labourers and workers. The industry cannot pay wages endlessly, he said, responding to the concern expressed by the participants on this issue.
Capt Amarinder lamented that Punjab was not getting its share from the Centre, which had also rejected its request for allowing liquor sales, leading to losses to the tune of Rs 6200 crore in revenue. “The Centre has to compensate,” he stressed.
The Chief Minister also conveyed to the industry the Central Government’s clarification that there would no penal action against any industrial unit if a worker is found infected with Covid.
He also assured the industry that there was neither any intention nor direction on the part of Punjab Government to impose any criminal liabilities on the industry and their CEOs for Covid-positive cases in their workforce. However, he urged them to follow all health and medical safety protocols laid down for checking spread of the coronavirus.
Terming the industry an integral part of Punjab's fight against Covid crisis, the Chief Minister has directed all departments to support and facilitate permitted industries to reopen and commence operations, said an official spokesperson.
Pointing out that industry could function as per guidelines if they provide food and shelter to workers, as per the Centre’s locked-in permission to operate, he also made it clear that all orders giving approval to industrial unit to operate must be sent to the labour, police and other concerned departments so that there is no harassment of industry.
Capt Amarinder urged the industry to immediately bring to the notice of the concerned DC or the Industry Minister and senior officers of the department any difficulty faced by them. If due to any supply chain problems, any industrial unit cannot continue to function, they will be permitted to shut down operations even as the Government will make all efforts to prevent such problems, he assured.