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Bengaluru, May 9: The bar owners in Karnataka, while welcoming the state government's decision to allow takeaway sales of liquor, said that the move is not going to benefit them much.

Venkatesh Babu, a Bengaluru-based bar owner said, "We welcome this move, our bar was closed for two months due to coronavirus crisis. We have been facing losses since then."

"The state government has told us to sell our stocks at maximum retail price (MRP). It is difficult for us to manage as the rent is high and we also have to pay salaries," he added.

The owner of Pingara Bar and Restaurant, Shivamogga said, "The government has said that is for parcel only and that too at MRP. There is no benefit to our business. We are only clearing the existing stock. They have given us time till May 17 and are not even giving us fresh stock. We are only allowed to sell what we have already."

Karnataka government in its Friday order allowed restaurants, pubs and bars to sell liquor at retail prices from May 9 till May 17, the day the third phase of lockdown is slated to end.

Earlier, the government had allowed the opening of liquor shops in order to mobilise revenue.

However, bars, pubs, restaurants were ordered to remain closed amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

Mangaluru, Mar 28: After a youth from Dakshina Kannada who tested positive for the deadly Covid-19 revealed that he had travelled by a bus, authorities have requested all his fellow passengers to visit their nearest district hospital. 

The 21-year-old man hailing from Belthangady taluk had flown from Dubai to Bengaluru on March 21 and on the same day travelled to Mangaluru by the KSRTC bus bearing registration number KA 19, F3329. 

As he was suffering from fever and cough he was admitted to Puttur government hospital on March 24. He was tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 27.   

It is not yet know how many passengers were there on board the above mentioned bus which had departed Bengaluru at 4:30 p.m. on March 21. It is believed that most of the passengers who travelled by this bus are residents of Dakshina Kannada. 

Hence, the KSRTC authorities today requested all the passengers who travelled by this bus to visit their nearest district hospital for necessary checkup. The passengers also were urged to quarantine themselves for next couple of weeks.

Tumkur, Jun 2: Karnataka Agriculture Minister BC Patil on Monday said that state will not be affected due to locust swarm as it has moved to other states.

"There will be no effect as locust insects diverted to other states after they came from Pakistan. We were also worried and were prepared to face it, luckily we will not be affected by insects," he said.

Locust is a type of grasshoppers and moves in large numbers and devastates crops. Several parts of Rajasthan including Ganganagar have reported locust attacks.

There is a prediction of another attack in June this year.