Modi seeks CMs’ suggestion, says Covid assault blunted, efforts on to make India green zone
In his marathon meeting with Chief Ministers, his fifth one to review the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sought suggestions on reviving the battered economy and scaling up all efforts to bring more “red” zones with high Covid-19 case load into “orange” or “green” zones.
While the Prime Minister maintained that country has “largely succeeded” in controlling the pandemic, most of the Chief Ministers insisted on graded opening of the lockdown with at least five of them — Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh — even opposing the resumption of train services from Tuesday and asked the Centre to push it back, cautioning that it would make it harder to identify, isolate and test suspected coronavirus cases and could lead to chaos.
It was decided to “redraw and narrow down” of the containment zones in different States. The States were asked by the Centre to submit their re-drawn maps of containment units showing areas of maximum coronavirus cases and the lowest ones by May 15, two days ahead of the last date of the extended lockdown.
While saying that people should stay wherever they are and be on “high alert”, Modi said situation was “largely” under control. “There is global recognition for India’s success in handling the Covid-19 pandemic and the Government of India appreciates the efforts made by all State Governments in this regard. Let us stay the course as we move forward together,” he said in the beginning of the meet.
All States have raised concerns about the crisis for thousands of migrants, stranded because of the lockdown since March-end. Economic measures to help migrants, small and medium industries and to help revive consumption were discussed. The Union Home Minister in intervention spoke about running special trains for the migrants.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa suggested discontinuing district-wise demarcation to contain pandemic. “We propose to do away with the district-wise demarcation into red, orange and green zones. Only containment zones should be identified and strictly cordoned. At least 50 to 100 meters around the known clusters may be declared as containment zones. Commercial activities including public transport should be allowed in non-containment zones,” he said.
He further added, “All domestic and international travel should not be permitted at least till the end of May.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was of opinion that any order on lockdown should be taken cautiously as the threat of peak in coronavirus cases looms large.
“Cases are expected to peak in May, it may peak in June or July also. I’ve read Wuhan is witnessing a second wave of cases, even the WHO has warned about this. So, I suggest that any action on lockdown must be taken cautiously,” he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked for opening up of economic activities in Delhi except in the containment zones.
Most of the States, including Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab, wanted extension of the lockdown with a carefully-crafted strategy to revive economic activities across the country. States requested the Centre to re-schedule the debt saying they were in “massive debt”.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh pitched for continuing the lockdown but backed by fiscal and economic empowerment of the States, to save lives and secure livelihood.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami wanted refinancing support of Rs 2,500 crore to the State Industrial Investment Corporation through IDBI and commercial banks.
Opposition-ruled States like Punjab, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal said that States needed to be given greater flexibility in micro-planning as part of a carefully planned exit strategy, encompassing both Covid-19 containment and a defined path of economic revival.
At least five CMs opposed running of passenger trains and resumption of flights. Raising objection to the operation of passenger trains from Tuesday, Telangana Chief Minister KC Rao backed Palaniswami’s stance of not running trains until next month. The two Chief Ministers were further joined by Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel in opposing the move.
Rao was of view that resuming train services would lead to a lot more chaos in terms of identifying people who’ve been infected, testing and quarantining. Tamil Nadu CM said trains should not be run to Chennai which has recently seen spurt in coronavirus cases.
Rao , along with others, urged Modi to reschedule the Centre’s debt on the States and asked for more Special Protection Equipment and other health kits.
“All the States are under massive financial burden and no State is in a stage to clear the debt to the Centre.” Rao requests the PM to ‘reschedule’ debts that States need to pay to the Centre, like the way farmer loans have been deferred”, said the Telangana CM.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said it was important to reopen agricultural markets, public transport, markets and shopping malls with some SOPs to prevent infections. “Normalcy will revive the economy,” Reddy reportedly said.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel sought independence in decision making saying “State Governments should get the right to take decisions on handling of economic activities within their States. They should also get the responsibility to declare red, green and orange zones.”
The BJP-ruled Tripura CM Biplab Deb said, “The North-East will work together and will fast track its economic activities.” He urged the PM that the NE corridor should be connected by road from Bangladesh, so that trade and business activity can be accelerated. He also sought for GST collection from the Centre.
Manipur CM N Biren Singh said, “Stranded people are coming back and we will now face the challenge. We will screen them at railway station and will send them to respective homes and ask them to home quarantine. The lockdown should be gradually opened and only economic activities should be allowed with strict protocol.”
Though the number of cases showed the biggest jump on Monday, India also has a significantly improved recovery rate of 31 per cent. On Monday the number of coronavirus patients is 67,152 with 4,213 new cases in the last 24 hours.