BENGALURU: In a bid to check the alarming surge in Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru, chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday appointed a minister and an IAS officer each to oversee the eight BBMP zones.
These ministers and officers will assess and review the situation in each zone and independently initiate measures to contain the spread of the disease in their area. “We discussed the prevailing Covid-19 situation threadbare, especially in Bengaluru, and resolved to tackle it zone-wise,” law and parliamentary affairs minister JC Madhuswamy said after the cabinet meeting.
The cabinet discussed the growing demand from some quarters for another round of lockdown in Bengaluru. However, the CM reportedly dismissed it, citing expert opinion against such a move. He reportedly told his cabinet colleagues that the pandemic is likely to continue for at least 3-4 months and, therefore, a lockdown of 10-15 days will not help.
Beefing up the treatment infrastructure, the cabinet approved a Rs 207-crore proposal to equip all taluk and district hospitals with a medical gas pipeline with a high-flow oxygen system to treat Covid-19 patients. The plan also envisages more beds for patients.
The cabinet approved promulgation of the Karnataka Contingency Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020 through ordinance to enhance the contingency fund limit to Rs 500 crore. “This is a one-time measure to meet expenditures related to Covid-19,” Madhuswamy said. Under the contingency fund, the government had room to spend up to Rs 80 crore without budget provision.
It also ratified procurement of medical equipment and furniture worth Rs 82 crore for public healthcare institutions of the health and family welfare department.
These ministers and officers will assess and review the situation in each zone and independently initiate measures to contain the spread of the disease in their area. “We discussed the prevailing Covid-19 situation threadbare, especially in Bengaluru, and resolved to tackle it zone-wise,” law and parliamentary affairs minister JC Madhuswamy said after the cabinet meeting.
The cabinet discussed the growing demand from some quarters for another round of lockdown in Bengaluru. However, the CM reportedly dismissed it, citing expert opinion against such a move. He reportedly told his cabinet colleagues that the pandemic is likely to continue for at least 3-4 months and, therefore, a lockdown of 10-15 days will not help.
Beefing up the treatment infrastructure, the cabinet approved a Rs 207-crore proposal to equip all taluk and district hospitals with a medical gas pipeline with a high-flow oxygen system to treat Covid-19 patients. The plan also envisages more beds for patients.
The cabinet approved promulgation of the Karnataka Contingency Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020 through ordinance to enhance the contingency fund limit to Rs 500 crore. “This is a one-time measure to meet expenditures related to Covid-19,” Madhuswamy said. Under the contingency fund, the government had room to spend up to Rs 80 crore without budget provision.
It also ratified procurement of medical equipment and furniture worth Rs 82 crore for public healthcare institutions of the health and family welfare department.
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