Wary of lifting the blockade, states ask the Center for more authority to categorize areas

Photograph released by GDP of Prime Minister Modi, Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh at a meeting with the CM on Monday.

Fifty days after the shutdown, while most states demanded further relaxation to resume economic activities, they were not determined to completely lift the shutdown on May 17. While some states sought the authority to decide zoning districts in red, orange, and green categories, some wanted more flexibility to modify blocking guidelines within their jurisdiction.

At the fifth meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, the chief ministers of at least four states, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana and West Bengal, were of the opinion that the blockade that came into effect on March 25 should be extended. States like Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Andhra, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu had reservations to allow interstate transportation, whether rail or air, and wanted to be consulted before making a decision. Bihar Prime Minister Nitisk Kumar said starting railway services “was a mistake” and that his opinion should have been taken since he was a “former railway minister”.

The Center had announced Sunday Partial resumption of railway services between New Delhi and several major cities.

At the end of the six-hour marathon meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the chief ministers to share a comprehensive strategy on how they would like to deal with the lockdown regime in their particular states before May 15. “I want states to do a blue print on how to deal with various nuances during and after the gradual relaxation of the blockade,” he told them.

Sources present at the meeting said a consensus seemed to have been reached around a demand by the Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh that the authority to zoning districts in red, orange and green categories be delegated to the states, including with the backing of Haryana, governed by the BJP.

In fact, Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that red-zone categorization should be done based on containment zones, noting that the district formula was not practical in a densely populated city like Delhi.

You can work on that and you can review the number of zones depending on the situation of the terrain. But the non-containment zones should be opened, he said.

Karnataka’s Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, wanted to remove the red, orange and green areas of the district, and instead had only strictly cordoned off containment areas. In non-containment zones, he said, commercial activities, including public transportation, should be allowed. Kerala Prime Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought powers to decide on closure guidelines after evaluating the prevailing situation in the state.

Rajasthan Prime Minister Ashok Gehlot told the prime minister that while states followed the mandatory closure of the Center “with all their will”, they should now have the right to decide on zones and restrictions in the next phase.

“Several CMs pointed out that, as the people implementing the measures on the ground, the states are more in tune with the real situation and, therefore, if it is okay for the Center to share the general criteria for the classification of the districts, the actual categorization should be left to them. Many also said there were flaws in the Center’s list, “said a source who was present at the meeting.

A new list of districts was distributed in the three zones only for the Center to remove in a few minutes, the sources said.

The sources said that the prime minister asked states to establish their own policy, decide on zonal restrictions, the activities that will be allowed in the containment zones and abroad. He made it clear that there would be no complete opening of the railways; it would be needs-based and slow. “He also said that until a vaccine was found, maintaining a social distance of 2 meters was the only weapon against Covid. He also said that pre-Covid and post-Covid are two different worlds and that India should seek new economic opportunities, should not miss out, “said an official.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Modi emphasized teamwork, compassion, and political skill during the crisis. Noting that India’s approach has gained global recognition, he said the country has “a clear indication of the geographical spread of the pandemic in India, including the most affected areas” and that officials have understood the operating procedures to the highest levels. district.

Economic activities have already slowly resumed, but in the coming days, the process will increase further, Modi said.

But many chief ministers differed in their views on exit closure plans.

While Yeddyurappa said that all domestic and international travel should not be allowed until at least the end of May, Vijayan opined that domestic flight services could be resumed with special guidelines, except from the containment areas. Medical tests could be done at airports and those with symptoms should not be allowed to travel, he said.

Odisha Prime Minister Naveen Patnaik, one of the first to seek an extension of the blockade in previous meetings, did not push for it on Monday, but emphasized the need for broad principles at the national level and decentralized implementation by the administration. local.

Punjab Prime Minister Singh said that states should be allowed great flexibility in micro planning, and that MSMEs should be allowed to function even in red-zone districts with adequate guarantees. “The exit strategy should consider and focus on the fiscal and economic empowerment of the states, which are responsible for the real action that directly affects the livelihood and social health of the common man,” said a statement, citing Singh as saying to Prime Minister.
Singh joined forces with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to demand more financial resources from the Center to combat the pandemic, particularly with the economy in decline. While Singh sought urgent funds to meet at least 33 percent of the state’s committed commitments and grants for three months to cover the income shortage, Baghel expressed his demand to allow states to increase their debt limit under the Act. Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management 2005 FRBM Law) from 3 percent of the GSDP (state gross domestic product) to 4 percent. Kerala reiterated its demand to raise the limit of the fiscal deficit and sought more funds with lower interest rates.

Maharashtra Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the pandemic cannot be contained unless the blockade continues, but called for a gradual uprising. “Thackeray said: ‘We are ready to live with the crown, but we are not sure if the virus is ready to live with us,'” said a source who was also part of the meeting. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao also strictly said The restrictions must continue.

Andhra Pradesh Prime Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy wanted to revive economic activities in many more sectors to restore normalcy, the sources said. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said “the fight to contain the coronavirus should not have a compromising effect on the economy,” and said the Center should continue efforts to achieve more investment in the northeast region given its potential in horticulture and agriculture.

Although there was no consensus on the lifting of the confinement, a minister from one state who was present at the meeting said: “There does not seem to be any clarity on the issue of openness; states are probably playing it safe now. Most of the conversation so far has been about migrants and special trains. “

Another high-ranking state minister said the tone and tone were similar to a “cat-and-mouse game” on the subject of the extension of the blockade and the way forward. “Most indicated that they wanted to relax, but are not giving concrete suggestions or advocating a complete closure,” said the minister. While Tripura indicated that the larger blockade should continue, he called for further relaxation in the districts. Assam also said that it was imperative that people not abandon social alienation, and advocated that some form of blockade be continued.

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