MP govt forms panel for revival of coronavirus-hit economy
While starting economic activities in select areas,social distancing norms and other preventive steps will haveto be adhered to, he said.
"We have formed a state-level committee to takemeasures to reorganisse the state's economy and provide it amomentum at the end of the coronavirus crisis," Chouhan told in an e-mail response to queries.
Chouhan said, "We are planning to allow manufacturingindustries to resume production soon by following the centralgovernment guidelines regarding coronavirus."
The government has approved resumption of activitiesin certain sectors in the Green Zone (areas free ofcoronavirus infection) and small towns, he said.
However, workers currently residing in COVID-19infected areas cannot be allowed to move in industrial unitsoperating outside containment zones and hotspots, the chiefminister said.
He said all measures to prevent infection such as useof masks and hand sanitisers should be taken in industrialunits given go-ahead to resume production.
As far as possible, arrangements should be made tohouse workers inside such enterprise, the chief minister said.
Chouhan said although Indore has emerged as thestate's top COVID-19 hotspot, some pharma units located aroundthis industrial centre have been allowed to resume work so asto ensure production of essential medicines.
Government officials estimate that the state is facingmonthly losses of Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 3,000 crore due to theongoing coronavirus crisis and the lockdown triggered by it.
Pithampur in Dhar district, a major industrial areanear Indore, has been badly affected by the lockdown.
Pithampur Industrial Organisation president GautamKothari said out of about 850 small-scale units in the area,except a few plants of pharma, packaging and food processing,other factories have been closed due to the lockdown.
However, the state government is gradually trying torevive industrial activities in Pithampur.
The head of Indore unit of Madhya Pradesh IndustrialDevelopment Corporation (MPIDC) Kumar Purushottam said about300 units in Pithampur have been allowed to resume productionsubject to certain conditions.
But in view of necessary maintenance and humanresources arrangements, most of these units may take a fewdays to resume work, he said.
Purushottam said more than 300 units, including pharmaplants, flour and pulse mills and warehouses have already beengranted go-ahead to operate in a phased manner in Indoredistrict. HWP ADU MASRSY RSY