Bengaluru, May 18 () Easing restrictions further asthe COVID-19 induced lockdown entered the fourth phase, theKarnataka government on Monday allowed public transportservices to operate from May 19, except in containment zones.
Following the recent spike in coronavirus infections, thegovernment said it has decided to allow people from stateslike Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu entry intoKarnataka in a staggered manner, while special cases will beallowed on request.
With the lockdown 4.0, the government also decided to doaway with colour coding of districts into red, orange andgreen zones and instead, focus on containment for monitoring.
On April 23, the Karnataka government partially relaxedCOVID-19 lockdown norms in the state, allowing IT and IT-enabled services to operate with essential minimum staff andalso certain construction activities, manufacturing ofpackaging materials, courier services, among others. In earlier relaxations, the government had allowed certainindustries to operate, besides opening of liquor outlets andsome standalone shops.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday convened ameeting with Ministers and senior officers on permittingvarious activities in the fourth phase of the lockdown in thestate, as per guidelines issued by the Government of India.
Detailed discussions were held about holding economicactivities, people arriving from other countries and states,their quarantining, restarting public transport and the lawand order situation, along with containing COVID-19.
"Lockdown will continue till May 31.In containment zones,there will be strict restrictions. If anyone violates the law,we will book criminal cases against them," Yediyurappa said.
Speaking to reporters,he said for the benefit of movementof people, all four state transport corporations (BMTC, KSRTC,NEKRTC and NWKRTC) have been allowed to operate, except incontainment zones, from Tuesday morning.
Private buses have also been permitted to ply, he said,adding that only 30 people would be allowed to travel in a buswith mandatory wearing of masks and maintaining physicaldistancing.
Amid apprehensions about bus fare hike due to lossesfaced by these transport corporations, the government has madeit clear that the fares would not be increased and it wouldbear the losses.
Inter-state transport of people would not be allowed,except in emergency cases, the Chief Minister said.
"We have decided not to allow people from Gujarat,Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu till May 31, but allowed instages (staggered manner)," he said.
According to sources, the decision follows the recentarrival of a large number of people from these states,especially Maharashtra and Gujarat, and them testing positivein quarantine, leading to a spike in the number of infectionsin the state.
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai too said, "we are wary ofpeople entering the state from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu andGujarat... looking at these people adding to the tally inKarnataka."
Autorickshaws and taxis were also given the green signalto ply, but only with three passengers, including the driver.
In maxi-cabs, the maximum number should be fourpassengers, including the driver.
Trains can operate within the state, but there will be nointer-state services till May 31.
Saloons can also function. Parks have been allowed to be open from 7 am to 9 am andfrom 5 pm to 7 pm, Yediyurappa said.
Except shopping malls, cinema halls and hotels, all shopscan open, he said, adding that in hotels, parcels can be givenas takeaways for the benefit of customers.
The Chief Minister said night curfew would continue from7 pm to 7 am and that "there will be a complete lockdown onSundays".
To a question on classification of zones, Yediyurappasaid the government's main focus was containment zones.
He said the government will review the relaxation basedon how things pan out in the days to come.
"States have been given the freedom, so we can withdrawor modify as necessary," he said.
According to top official sources,the government is doingaway with the colour coding of districts and instead willfocus on containment zones, which will be closely monitored.
Extending the lockdown with a new set of guidelines tillMay 31, the Centre on Sunday had given states and unionterritories powers for delineation of Red, Green and OrangeZones as per COVID-19 situation.
The nationwide lockdown was initially imposed from March25 to April 14, then extended to May 3 and again to May 17 toprevent the spread of the coronavirus. KSU APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH