From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 26: As part of the strategy to control the surge in Covid infection cases in Karnataka, the State Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has decided to continue the present restrictions under the weekend curfew for the next 14 days from Tuesday April 27 night.
The State Cabinet also decided to ensure supply of free vaccine in all government hospitals and healthcare centres for all persons in the age group above 18 years to 45 years, for whom vaccination will be starting from May 1 as per the recent decision announced by the Centre. The online registration will commence from Wednesday, April 28. The vaccination drive for all people of 45 years will be continued as before in accordance with the policy announced by the Centre.
Though the Chief Minister, who addressed the media after the State Cabinet meeting, described the restrictions as the ‘stringent curbs’ and at one point even termed the restrictions as ‘bandh’, official sources said the State Government was not willing to term the restrictions either as ‘lockdown’ or ‘curfew’ and clarified that it will be virtually like the weekend curfew enforced in the State from Friday night till Monday morning.
However, all stops and grocery shops will be allowed to function for four hours in the morning between 6 am and 10 am to enable the public to buy essential things like milk, vegetables and groceries.
The Chief Minister said shops, hotels, restaurants, bars and other business establishments will be allowed to operate from 6 am to 10 am only for ‘take away or parcel’ services and not to serve customers in the premises.
All industries in the manufacturing sector, agricultural operations and construction activities will be allowed while industries in the non-manufacturing sector will not be allowed to function, the Chief Minister said. The garment industry will remain closed.
Public transport, including bus services from Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and all the four State Road Transport Corporations in the State as well as Metro Rail services in the City and even other private transport including buses, taxies, cabs, auto rickshaws etc. and inter-state movement of buses will be stopped, the Chief Minister announced.
However, goods transport vehicles will be allowed to operate unhindered.
The detailed guidelines on the activities allowed and not allowed will be announced later in the evening, official sources said.
Schools, colleges, temples, churches, mosques etc. will not be allowed to open during the curfew period. This will be a big problems for the Muslims who are observing the Ramzan prayers and also the Ramzan feast.
The Chief Minister said the State Government will request the Election Commission not to conduct any elections for the next six months. It is, however, not clear as what will happen for the counting of the by-elections to the three assembly constituencies and the lok sabha seat in Karnataka, which is scheduled for May 2.
It is also not clear as the situation pertaining to the ongoing IPL cricket tournament matches when they are being held in the city.
Banks, ATMs and Post Offices will remain open.