PM Modi-CMs meet updates: Karnataka asks Centre to tell how many Covid-19 tests each state should do

PM Modi-CMs meet updates: Karnataka asks Centre to tell how many Covid-19 tests each state should do

With the focus on boosting economic activities amid a graded exit from the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is interacting with chief ministers of various states via video conference today. Follow live updates on the meeting here.

New Delhi
May 11, 2020
UPDATED: May 11, 2020 21:11 IST
This is the fifth virtual conference between Prime Minister Modi and the chief ministers on the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo: PTI)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Large-scale movement of migrant workers focus of discussion
  • Unlike previous meets, all CMs will have time to air views
  • Many states reported problems of labour and supply chains

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a fresh round of consultation with chief ministers on ways to strengthen the Covid-19 containment strategy and stepping up of economic activities in a calibrated manner as the 54-day nationwide lockdown nears an end.

The large-scale movement of migrant workers from urban to rural India and the problems their return to home states may cause in restarting the economy was also being discussed during the fifth virtual interaction between the prime minister and chief ministers since the outbreak of the deadly virus in the country.

The interaction is attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan among others.

SIX HOUR MEETING

There will be an effort to ensure that all participating chief ministers get an opportunity to air their views during the interaction, as some of the CMs had complained that they were not allowed to put forth their views during the last interaction on April 27.

Due to this the meeting is expected to continue till 9.30 pm with a scheduled 30-minute break at 6 pm.

PM-CM COVID- 19 MEET LIVE UPDATES

8.00 pm: Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa proposed that the district-wise classification of Red, Orange and Green Zones be done away with. He said that only containment zones should be identified and strictly cordoned off and a perimeter of 50-100 meters around known clusters may be declared as containment zones.

He suggested that commercial activities including public transport should be allowed in non-containment zones.

Yediyurappa also said that domestic and international travel should not be permitted at least until the end of May.

He also requested the Centre to determine the minimum number of tests per million to be carried out in each state.

7. 40 pm: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal recommended that economic activity should be allowed to resume everywhere in the national capital except containment zones.

7.35 pm: Assam has asked that the lockdown be extended for two more weeks and that inter-state movement is stopped.

7.15 pm: Demands made by Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

- Start industries in green zones.
- Start local trains for workers employed in essential services.
- We should make a decision about lockdown very carefully as it is also said that Covid-19 cases will peak in June-July.
- Allow farmers to get crop insurance.
- Maharashtra should get GST returns at the earliest. The state has got hit of 35,000 crore rupee so GST returns should be given earliest.
- Police and doctors are working overnight, so if needed, the central government should provide additional workforce.

7.10 pm: Meanwhile, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said a smaller, scientific unit can replace the district as
the unit for zoning and local administration should be allowed to decide this area. He also said that a national SOP will guide in a unified response in rebooting economy.

"Railway movements may be regulated in consultation with states as being done for stranded persons," Patnaik said.

7.00 pm: According to sources, the Gujarat government has said that it doesn't want the lockdown to be extended.

6.55 pm: Chattishgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel requested that states should be consulted before allowing regular railway and flights. He also said that state governments should get the right to make decisions on handling of economic activities within their states.

He also suggested that the period of work given under the MNREGA scheme be extended to 200 days.

6.50 pm: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot suggested that those from red zones shouldn’t be allowed to enter green zones.

6.45 pm: Sources have suggested that Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana and West Bengal have sought an extension of the lockdown.

- Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said it’s impossible to go forward without a lockdown.

- Mamata Banerjee too demanded a lockdown extension saying that everyone needs to fight together.

6.35 pm: Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy asked for normalcy at the earliest. He said the stigma associated with coronavirus patients needs to be fought and till this fear is not fought we cannot move ahead in this battle against coronavirus.

6.25 pm: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh pitches for continued lockdown with a well-crafted exit strategy to save lives and secure livelihood. He also sought greater flexibility in micro-planning for states. Singh suggested the classification of red, green and orange zones should be left to the states and also called for a national testing strategy.

The Punjab CM has also demanded urgent fiscal aid for states to meet at least 33 per cent of committed liabilities, revenue grants for 3 months.

6.10 pm: PM Modi states that were lax with lockdown implementation have seen an increase in cases. He added that the night curfew has proved to be an effective strategy.

5.50 pm: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has opposes the resumption of passenger train services. He said trains from Metro cities which are all red zones may further spread Covid-19.

"Efforts are underway to prepare a coronavirus vaccine and Hyderabad-based companies are working towards a vaccine which is likely to become a reality in July-August," he informed the meeting.

5.35 pm: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar that his government is in agreement of extending the lockdown because once the lockdown is lifted, a large influx people will come into the state and increase the risk of transmission.

5.30 pm: Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palanisami asked the Centre to provide more RT-PCR testing kits for his state. He also asked the government to grant Rs 3,000 crore for procurement of medical equipment and movement of migrant workers and an additional Rs 2,500 crore for industrial investment.

He also requested that train and flight services are not resumed in Chennai till May 31 given the increasing number of cases in the city.

Palanisami asked for additional borrowing of 33 per cent above the permitted level for the fiscal year 2019-20 to be allowed for 2020-21. He said that the pending GST compensation of the state should be released along with 50 per cent of the finance commission grant for 2020-21 to urban and rural bodies.

5.10 pm: PM Modi stresses on teamwork, compassion and statesmanship.

Points made by PM:

1. There is a global recognition for India’s success in handling the Covid-19 pandemic and government of India appreciates the efforts made by all state governments in this regard. Let us stay the course as we move forward together.

2. We now have a reasonably clear indication as to the geographical spread of the pandemic in India, including the worst-affected areas. Moreover, over the past few weeks, officials have understood operating procedures in a time such as this, right up to the district level.

3. Slowly but surely, economic activities have begun to pick up in several parts of the country. In the coming days, this process will further gather steam.

4. We must realize that the fight against Covid-19 has to be more focussed now.

5. Going forward, the road ahead should be focused on reducing the spread and ensuring that all precautions are taken by people including social distancing norms by observing ‘Do Gaj Doori’. Follow-up is of paramount importance and we must do so to the hilt.

6. We also have to ensure that rural India remains free from this crisis.

4.40 pm: Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke at the meeting. He reportedly said that the Aarogya Setu app is very helpful in tracking and combatting the spread of coronavirus and hence states should encourage their people to use it. He also stressed on the need for coordination between states to bring migrants back home.

4.30 pm: Mamata Banerjee also asked the Centre to respect the federal structure of the country. Referring to letters written by Home Minister Amit Shah and other officials, she alleged that the correspondence is leaked to the media before it even reaches the West Bengal government.

4.15 pm: As the tussle between the West Bengal government continues, CM Mamata Banerjee blasted the Centre for doing politics of discrimination with the state. She reportedly said that West Bengal is doing its best to combat coronavirus and hence the Centre should not play politics during this crucial time.

She added that West Bengal is surrounded by international borders and other bigger states and therefore has multiple challenges to deal with.

4.05 pm: Centre devising new Covid-19 strategy based on the following data -

- 216 districts have not reported any cases till May 8.

- 603 of the 733 districts in orange and green zones are facing labour and supply chain issues.

- 10 states account for 97 per cent of India's Covid-19 tally.

4.02 pm: While the further easing of restrictions is to be expected after the end of Lockdown 3.0, sources have said the focus of government efforts will be to ensure Covid-19 doesn't reach rural India.

3.50 pm: In the videoconference between Prime Minister Modi and the chief ministers, the governments are expected to work on different strategies for red, orange and green zones.

3.45 pm: As attempts for the resumption of economic activity are being made, states are reporting their failure to fully implement relaxations for the industry due to significant labour and supply issues.

3.30 pm: Sources have said that all states are demanding a graded exit from the third phase of the lockdown but both the state and central governments are unlikely to ease night-time restrictions.

MIGRANT CRISIS IN FOCUS

With thousands of migrant workers taking special trains to go back to their home states, the restarting of industrial activities will prove to be a challenge for states though several relaxations have been made in labour laws to increase factory output.

The meet is also likely to discuss efforts to convert 'red' zones with high Covid-19 caseload into 'orange' or 'green' zones.

The prime minister interacted with the chief ministers last on April 27. Days after the meeting, the central government had extended the lockdown by two more weeks till May 17 to arrest the spread of the virus but gave several relaxations in economic activities and movement of people.

The nationwide lockdown has been in force since March 25 to contain the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 2,200 people and afflicted more than 67,000 in the country.

(with inputs from Rahul Shrivastava and Himanshu Mishra in New Delhi, Manogya Loiwal in Kolkata)

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Posted byNishtha Gupta