CORONA LOCKDOWN: Union May Ask States, UTs to Prepare Additional Plan

The Union Government is likely to retain a limited role and allow the states & UTs to take their own decisions on whether to tighten or give additional relaxations during the nationwide lockdown in their respective jurisdictions from June 1.

The Union Government may advise state authorities to continue with strict curbs in Covid-19 containment zones in the worst-affected 30 municipal areas that account for 80 per cent of the positive cases in the country. These 30 municipal areas are from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Odisha.

A senior Government officer said, “There is every possibility that the Centre will have very limited role with regards to imposing restrictions or giving relaxations from June 1. The states and UTs will take decisions on such issues depending on the situation locally”. Government of India may continue with the suspension on operation of international flights and political gatherings as well as closure of malls and cinema halls, besides ordering mandatory wearing of face mask by people in public places and maintenance of social distancing norms everywhere. On reopening of schools or restarting metro train services, the states may be allowed to take a call.

The officer said that the ongoing lockdown measures will be reviewed every fortnight and the concerned states or UTs will take their decision related to their respective jurisdictions. The states may also be allowed to take a decision on allowing religious places, which have been shut since March 25, when the lockdown had begun. The nationwide lockdown was first announced by the Prime Minister on March 24 for 21 days in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. It was first extended till May 3 and then again till May 17. The lockdown has been further extended till May 31.