Karna govt to ease many lockdown restrictions after Apr 20

Bengaluru, Apr 18 () The Karnataka government onTuesday decided to ease many lockdown restrictions after April20, including allowing industries to operate and for three percent staff in the IT-BT sector to attend offices, to give athrust to economic activities.

"However the easing of restrictions will not be permittedin COVID-19 affected areas in the state which will be declaredas containment zones," Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa toldreporters after chairing a high-level meeting, attended bysenior ministers and officials.

"It was decided that there will be no restrictions on thetransportation of essential goods, as well as constructionmaterials like gravel, sand, cement and steel," he said.

Construction workers will be allowed to stay where theyare employed, he added.

The Chief Minister said 33 per cent of the workforce ofIT-BT companies would be allowed to attend office after April20. Industries would be permitted to function in industrialclusters in villages and Special Economic Zones or industrialtownships in urban areas, he said.

Inter district movement of vehicles would not bepermitted, barring between Ramanagar, Bengaluru urban andBengaluru rural district.

"These three districts will be considered as one districtin view of hectic movement of people due to industrialactivities, Yediyurappa said.

In the containment zones, an 'incident commander' havingmagisterial powers would be appointed. He would head a team of police and health officials toensure there are no violations in the zones.

Residents within these zones would not be allowed to comeout of their homes and essential items would be supplied tothem at their doorsteps, he said. Among other decisions taken were that there would be norestrictions on use of two wheelers after April 20 and thatrestrictions on sale of liquor would continuetill May 3, hesaid.

The Chief Minister expressed happiness over the declinein the number of cases on Saturday. "One satisfying thing is that there were 36 new cases onApril 16.... yesterday it was 44 and it has come down to 12today.

Out of the 371 cases, 266 are active cases because92 people have recovered and 13 people died," he said. GMSAPRRAVINDRANATH GMSAPRRAVINDRANATH