Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SHP)

Bengaluru, May 3: Classification of the particular district into red zone signifies continued restrictions and no relaxations amid lockdown, while a green zone or an orange zone helps the area resume operation to keep its economy afloat. While the union government classified the entire Bengaluru Urban under the red zone, the Karnataka state government is contesting the tag as the area has reported no positive cases for a while.

To make matters worse, even Bengaluru Rural has been placed in the red zone list, which also includes Mysuru. This is not being accepted by the state which has asserted that the district has reported no coronavirus cases in the recent days.

The state government has decided to ask the centre to not consider Bengaluru as one entire district for COVID-19 containment purposes so that economic activities can resume in places where there are no cases.

State minister for primary and secondary education, S Suresh Kumar, said that the state government has decided to urge the centre to re-designate Bengaluru rural district, which has been identified as red zone into green zone, and Mysuru, which has been classified as red zone, as orange zone. He said that strict orders have been issued for coronavirus control in red zones.

"In Bengaluru rural zone, six persons were confirmed with coronavirus infection, and all of them have recovered. In Mysuru, where 88 cases were confirmed, there has been considerable increase in the people who are getting cured. As of now, only 24 cases are active there. Therefore, we will approach the centre with a plea to change the classification of Bengaluru rural into green zone and Mysuru as orange zone," he explained.

Revenue minister R Ashoka said, "Entire Bengaluru has been made as one unit. This is a city of over 1 crore people. Even if there’s one positive case, the entire district will become red. So, we suggest that Bengaluru be divided into four zones. The green zones can be freed up whereas red zones can have restrictions. We have decided to write to the Centre on this."

"People are inconvenienced because of this, following which we have suggested dividing Bengaluru," the minister added.

The issue of not considering Bengaluru Urban district as one unit was discussed at a meeting chaired by chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday.

The necessity to allow Bengaluru to conduct economic activities is vital for the state's revenue as the city is the biggest contributor.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner B H Anil Kumar said that no COVID-19 cases have been reported in 154 out of 198 municipal wards in the city. "We will have to consider such wards as green zones. There are containment zones in 25 wards where no relaxation will be given. We have proposed that relaxation should apply in places outside the containment zones. We will seek the Centre’s approval for this," he said.