Meghalaya & Himachal Wants Lockdown Extension

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a meetingwith chief ministers of different states through video conference on theCovid-19 lockdown, and their wishlist if the restrictions are to be eased. Andexcept Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh, all other states were in favour oflifting the Covid-19 lockdown.

Duringthis fourth meeting between the Prime Minister and the CMs on the coronaviruspandemic since March 20, nine ministers got to speak due to time constraintsand all the other CMs are asked to send their submissions in writing.

Thechief ministers who spoke during the meeting are from Meghalaya, Mizoram,Puducherry, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana.

The first to speak was Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who said that the state will continue with lockdown beyond May 3 with restrictions on inter-state and inter-district movement. However, essential services and travel due to a medical emergency will be allowed, he said.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga talked about howreligious they have become during the lockdown and will go with the Centre'sdecision.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy sought Centre's intervention for providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other medical equipment for the state's healthcare warriors. He also expressed willingness to start industries when the lockdown ends on May 3 and sought financial aid from Government of India to fight Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that business and trade activities should start in a phase-wise manner, with focus on all precautionary measures. "We should look towards easing people's life by turning the situation to normal. Economic revival is key to moving forward," Rawat said at the meeting.

He also said that Uttarakhand, which is a tourism andpilgrimage destination, has been greatly affected by the lockdown.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said that the state government is now in a position to start economic activities. "However, lockdown should continue considering the issue with other states as well."

Unionhealth minister Harsh Vardhan had said on Sunday that there were 300disease-free districts in the country and another 297 districts did not haveany hotspots or small areas having more than five cases. He had said that only127 districts in the country have Covid-19 red zones.

The Union health minister had said this indicated thatthe disease has been contained largely to hotspots.