Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 16: The union government, which has declared coronavirus as a national disaster, has set aside funds to different states to carry on fight against the spread of this dreaded virus.

Karnataka has lost two lives to the disease so far and the state has been kept in alertness and measures like banning public programmes and functions with large number of participants have been undertaken. The entire country is closely watching the situation and the health department has been keeping a vigil on the prevalence and spread of this disease.

As coronavirus has been declared as a national disaster, the centre has been providing money from the National Calamity Fund to all the states. Karnataka has got its share of Rs 84 crore. This money can be used for acquiring medicines, hygiene, sanitation, purchase of equipment, police security and fire department expenses, the revenue department has been told.

State revenue minister, R Ashok, said that in normal course, the state government is expected to spend money in such cases on its own. He said that for the first time, the union government has released funds for the purpose. He said that out of the National Disaster Response Fund, the centre has permitted to spend 25 percent. He said that a meeting will be held with the minister for health and family welfare, and district administrations would be notified about the use of this fund.