The Karnataka Cabinet has decided to continue observing a strict lockdown in the State till May 3, without any relaxations in movement of people or the functioning of industries in either rural or urban areas.
Following unruly incidents in Padarayanapura in Bengaluru, where Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike workers were allegedly attacked when trying to take people to a quarantine facility, the government has decided to promulgate an ordinance giving special powers to enforcement authorities and providing protection to frontline health workers.
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The Cabinet on Monday also withdrew all partial lockdown relaxations announced by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday. It shelved some relaxation measures, including allowing a maximum of one-third of the workforce in the IT/BT sectors and government offices to resume work.
With this, all types of industries and services will remain closed till May 3. However, relaxations will continue for agriculture- and horticulture-related activities and agricultural marketing.
Briefing reporters on the Cabinet decisions, Law and Parliamentary Minister J.C. Madhuswamy said, “Today’s situation will continue till May 3. We are awaiting fresh guidelines from the Centre, and if any relaxation can be given, the Chief Minister and the task force will discuss it in three or four days. But in principle, the lockdown will continue till May 3 and there will not be any relaxation for now,” he said.
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Several other States, including Delhi and Telangana, have decided to implement lockdown norms strictly till May 3.
On the ordinance, Mr. Madhuswamy said it would unify and consolidate the laws related to the regulation and prevention of epidemic diseases.
Like UP and Kerala
The Minister said that the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance would be drafted based on the Uttar Pradesh and Kerala models. The Kerala Ordinance, 2020 empowers the government to prohibit any usage or act it considers sufficient to spread or transmit epidemic diseases at any gathering, celebration, worship or other such activities. It also allows the inspection of persons arriving in the State by air, rail, road, sea or any other means, or in quarantine or in isolation, as the case may be. It makes way for the sealing of State borders and the imposition of restrictions on the operations of public and private transport.
Mr. Madhuswamy said the ordinance would also include the imposition of a penalty and allow for imprisonment if any person/institution/company is not bound by the regulations of the government.
The major objectives are to control the spread of the disease and to provide security to the police and frontline health workers. The ordinance aims to punish those spreading fake news, abetting offences, and not cooperating with the government. It will come into effect after Governor Vajubhai R. Vala gives assent to it.
Export matters
The Cabinet also resolved to exert pressure on the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the export of spices and coffee from Karnataka. “All markets have closed, so it has been decided that this issue will be raised with the Commerce Department,” Mr. Madhuswamy said.