BENGALURU: Anticipating that PM Modi may allow states to opt for graded lifting of the lockdown in his address on Tuesday, Karnataka has prepared a plan to provide exemptions to certain sectors to resume activities from Wednesday.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa held an extended meeting with senior ministers and officials on Monday to discuss plans to resume economic activities, including opening of liquor shops, in a limited way.
The state has informed the Centre that it's ready to extend the lockdown till April 30, hoping it would be allowed to relax the curbs in non-epidemic zones. The meeting decided to increase the number of Covid-19 tests in the state and allow tuberculosis labs to conduct the checks.
The state is expected to get guidelines from the Centre after Modi's speech. "We know the outlines of the Centre's phase-out plan, and we are prepared to implement it," said a senior minister.
Liquor sale via MSIL outlets?
The state is likely to allow sale of liquor through Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) outlets from Wednesday to earn revenue for the exchequer. Many MSIL outlets were setting up barricades to avoid rush of customers anticipating liquor sale resumption. According to officials, the government is also planning to permit bar and restaurants to sell and not serve liquor.
Least curbs in green zone
Sources said the state has planned to partially lift the lockdown in at least 10-12 of the 30 districts to revive economic and agriculture activities after dividing the districts into red, orange and green zones depending on the rate of Covid-19 incidence.
Complete lockdown will continue in the red zone; curbs will be relaxed up to an extent for farmers and industries in the orange zone; maximum relaxations will be allowed in the green zone. Government and private offices will be allowed along with movement of traffic in the least-affected districts. The government will make masks a mustfor all zones.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa held an extended meeting with senior ministers and officials on Monday to discuss plans to resume economic activities, including opening of liquor shops, in a limited way.
The state has informed the Centre that it's ready to extend the lockdown till April 30, hoping it would be allowed to relax the curbs in non-epidemic zones. The meeting decided to increase the number of Covid-19 tests in the state and allow tuberculosis labs to conduct the checks.
The state is expected to get guidelines from the Centre after Modi's speech. "We know the outlines of the Centre's phase-out plan, and we are prepared to implement it," said a senior minister.
Liquor sale via MSIL outlets?
The state is likely to allow sale of liquor through Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) outlets from Wednesday to earn revenue for the exchequer. Many MSIL outlets were setting up barricades to avoid rush of customers anticipating liquor sale resumption. According to officials, the government is also planning to permit bar and restaurants to sell and not serve liquor.
Least curbs in green zone
Sources said the state has planned to partially lift the lockdown in at least 10-12 of the 30 districts to revive economic and agriculture activities after dividing the districts into red, orange and green zones depending on the rate of Covid-19 incidence.
Complete lockdown will continue in the red zone; curbs will be relaxed up to an extent for farmers and industries in the orange zone; maximum relaxations will be allowed in the green zone. Government and private offices will be allowed along with movement of traffic in the least-affected districts. The government will make masks a mustfor all zones.
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