Bengaluru, Apr 7: The Karnataka Government indicated today that it is too early to take a call now on lifting the nation-wide lockdown but said it’s in favour of its extension in COVID-19 hotspots in the country by at least an additional two weeks.
“We need to see for another few days before taking final call,” Medical Education Minister Sudhakar K, who is in-charge of all matters related to COVID-19, told news agency Press Trust of India when asked if the State is in favour of the rollback after the 21-day period ends on April 14.
The minister opined that the decision on its withdrawal should be based on the COVID-19 pandemic situation at the time in terms of number of cases and response to the outbreak.
When the lockdown is lifted, it has to be in a staggered and phased manner, and not at one go, Mr Sudhakar stressed.
“Where there are red alerts and zones, those zones, in my opinion, should continue to be in a lockdown situation at least for two weeks…till this month-end, I will request them (the Centre) to do this,” he said.
The Telananga Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend the 21-day national lockdown imposed to contain COVID-19 outbreak beyond April 14, saying it was essential to save lives.
Mr Sudhakar said the Karnataka government is facing financial challenges because of drastic fall in revenues due to the lockdown, adding, it would take “tough decisions” to cut expenditure.
The Finance Department is in the process of evaluating the state’s fiscal position.
“Finance department is gathering information…what is the need now, what should be the overall expenditure, how much we can save; financial support for unorganised and organised sector, along with stimulus to other sectors, we have to see where we stand financially,” the minister said.
“Based on that, we have to take certain steps for sure because after all the government runs on the exchequer money. Once the exchequer is stopped because of lockdown, we are not getting GST, no motor vehicle tax. No tax money is coming.”
Government also has to run right? he said.
He said commitment and obligations with regard to paying interest on loans taken at the national and international level would have to be met.
“So, there are some financial constraints, and financial challenges before the government. The Government will take tough decisions only after studying the entire finance (position of the State).”
The Telangana government last week announced pay cut for government employees.
The Union Cabinet on Monday approved a 30 per cent cut in salaries of all Members of Parliament and a two-year suspension of the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme.
Comments
Kobrakka...
you know what human lives are much more important than cows, are you agree if cow protectors are killing human to protect cows ??? if so you should thrash those people who killing and exporting to Gulf countries.
Dear Shobakka, you shgould agitate to know who are the real cow thieves and where are they supplying these. I am 100 percent sure that 99 percent of these thieves are from sangh parivar and they transport the cows to Gujrat beef exporters owned by sanghis. Shoba is trying to fool us and divert the issue. She also knows the fact but doing drama. She is following her boss in this practice. Why dont you urgent in parliament to stop beef export and declare cow as national animal? Why bjp is not interesting is doing so and doing drama on cow. For them cow is sacred and should not be consumed by poor people in india and not sacred for exporting beef out of the country. does Shoba also has any beef exporting factory in Gujarat? May be yes.
ಈ ಎಂಪಿ ಖಾಲಿ ಜಾನುವಾರುಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ಇರುವುದು ಬಿಟ್ಟರೆ ಬೇರೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಇಲ್ಲವೇ?
ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪಹೇಳಿ ಕೊಡಿರಿ - ಜಾನುವಾರು ಕಳವು ಆದರೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಡಿಪಾರ್ಟ್ಮೆಂಟ್ ಇದೆ- ಅವರು ಅದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ
ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ - ಅದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಗಮನ ಕೊಡಿ ಮೇಡಂ
ಗತಿಸಿದ ೫ ವರ್ಷ ಖಾಲಿ ಹೆಣ ಮತ್ತು ದನದ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ಆಯಿತು
ಈ ೫ ವರ್ಷ ವಾದರೂ ದಯಮಾಡಿ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಕಡೆ ಗಮನ ಕೊಡಿ ಪ್ಲೀಸ್
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