Bengaluru, Apr 18: Hours after announcing that two-wheelers will be allowed to ply and that IT/BT companies can resume operations with 33 per cent strength, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday took a u-turn and rolled them back, citing “public opinion” as the reason.
Earlier in the day, Yediyurappa announced that, after April 20, there will not be any restriction on the movement of two-wheelers in areas that are not COVID-19 containment zones. Yediyurappa also said that a third of IT/BT employees will be allowed to go to the office after April 20.
“In the backdrop of public opinion and after discussions with senior officials, it has been decided that the prohibition on two-wheelers will continue throughout the lockdown period,” a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said. “And in the IT/BT sector, only essential services will be allowed and the work-from-home policy will continue.”
According to sources, the u-turn came following opposition from Yediyurappa’s Cabinet colleagues. “If I was in the meeting, I’d not have allowed it,” a minister said. Only Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Revenue Minister R Ashoka were in the meeting Yediyurappa held earlier in the day. The Opposition also stemmed from the fact that there was no need to make decisions on the lockdown when the Cabinet was scheduled to meet on April 20, sources said.
The incoordination was apparent on Friday when Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan, the IT/BT minister, said 50 per cent of employees in the sector will be permitted to work while Yediyurappa said this would depend on the number of cases reported in the coming days.
Other announcements made by Yediyurappa remain unchanged.
“Places, where COVID-19 cases are reported, will be identified as containment zones. In such containment zones, an incident commander will be appointed and given magisterial power. Teams comprising the police and health department officials will oversee the lockdown,” Yediyurappa said. “Lockdown will be much more stringent in these areas and no one will be allowed to step out. Essential supplies will be delivered home.”
According to Bommai, there were 32 containment zones in Bengaluru and ‘hotspots’ have been identified in eight districts.
With an eye on restarting economic activities, the government will allow construction work and industries. “In urban areas, construction work will be allowed to start wherever construction workers have the facility to stay on site,” Yediyurappa said. “The manufacturing sector in rural areas and industrial units located in the special economic zones (SEZ) and townships in urban areas will be allowed to function,” he said.
Stating that inter-state travel will be prohibited, Yediyurappa said the districts of Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and Ramnagara will be considered as one only for the movement of industrial workers.
Asked about liquor sale, Yediyurappa said a decision will be taken after May 3. The government has already prohibited liquor sale till April 20 midnight.
Comments
I do not know why media is making some big issues. Most of us have many FB accounts, Email Ids. This is not like Aadhar or Passport where it is the identity. Even in US, I know many senators having many FB accounts. They cannot share their personal details on FB so they have personal, political and regular friends.
Its not your fault. Politics isn't your cup of tea. It is something that is beyond your abilities! Sumne acting madkond iddidre yeshto chennagittu alva? Why on earth do you need all this? Is it worth?
...she just wanted to follow Kejribhai and thought abusing Modi would be a good idea...poor thing paid for it....the way it looks spandana will now onwards beat slower and more sensibly...
When will Ramya make public her smart strategy to take over Nehru dynasty to become all-powerful in Congress party and announce her secret master-stroke engagement to Rahu ?
I like her witty tweet and proud of her success she achieved at young age. She is more smart courage than feku supporter stone aged most superstious backward mindset RSS criminals (especially pucking uneducated ignorant brainwashed male and from mangalore chaddi taliban region) from karnataka. Best part, she doesn't give rats to 1000s of hate, abuse message from 3rd class chaddi criminals. RSS
criminal hurt by fact! RAT that how smart Ramya treat trolls on her facebook and twitter. you low life coward chaddi criminals can intimate her with her and demolishing comments? get a life
manipulating videos is the history of Brahmin Bania Jumla Party! They did it in JNU, they did with Hardik Patel, they might have done now, they will continue doing always
ತಾಯಿ ರಮ್ಯಾ ದೇವಿ ! ಎಷ್ಟು ಶತದಡ್ಡಿ ಇದ್ದೀಯಮ್ಮಾ ನೀನು !? ಅಯ್ಯೋ ಪೆದ್ದಿ, ಮುಂದೆ election ಗೆಲ್ಬೇಕು ಅಂತ ಇದೇಯೋ ಅಥವಾ ಪಪ್ಪು ಆಗ್ಲೇ ರಾಜ್ಯಸಭೆ seat ready ಇಟ್ಟಿದಾನೋ?
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