Karnataka ministers favour extension of COVID-19 lockdown period

Will take a final call after meeting Modi, Yediyurappa said

A vendor carries packed food to sell during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Chikmagalur | PTI A vendor carries packed food to sell during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Chikmagalur | PTI

The Karnataka government is mulling over the extension of the lockdown. 

Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, who held an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday, said there was consensus among the ministers to extend the lockdown.  "All my ministers are of the opinion that the lockdown should be extended for another 15 days. However, I will take a final call after my meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow (April 10)," said Yediyurappa, who also urged the people of Karnataka not to defy the lockdown.  

"I urge people not to venture out of their homes till April 14. We have already ensured that all essential commodities are available closer home.  So, there is no reason why people should move around unnecessarily. We have confiscated 10,000 vehicles and cases have been booked. If people don't cooperate, stringent measures will be inevitable," said Yediyurappa. 

The state cabinet also passed an ordinance affecting a 30 per cent cut in the salary and allowances of all the elected representatives in the state. "The salary cut will be applicable to all the ministers,  MLAs,  MLCs and the officers working in the Secretariat and will be in effect for one year. The accrued amount of Rs 15.37 crore will be contributed for the COVID-19 fund," said state law minister J. C. Madhuswamy.

A second ordinance will facilitate food supplies through the public distribution system even to those who have no ration card. "I want to ensure nobody goes hungry in the state. We have started food supply through fair price (PDS) shops and we have around 2.5 lakh pending applications for ration cards. So, we have decided to provide foodgrain supplies to these families too who are yet to get their ration cards," clarified Yediyurappa.  

The farmers in Kodagu, Shimoga and Chikmagalur who had applied for regularisation of land but were slapped with land grabbing cases can breathe easy now as the cabinet, through an ordinance, has amended the law that bails out these farmers from land grabbing case.

Earlier, Yediyurappa also informed that the government had made arrangements to market the agricultural produces. And the crop loss compensation will also be a top priority for his government.