Andhra Pradesh for lockdown extension only in red zones

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday said he was of the opinion that the lockdown should be limited only to the areas classified as “red zones” where the intensity of the novel coronavirus disease Covid-19 is very high.

Speaking at a video conference held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reddy left it to the Centre to draw a single strategy for the entire country.

“While I give my opinion, I do understand and appreciate the fact that the war can be won if we function as one unit. Here I trust your leadership in totality. Whatever the strategy you suggest we follow and take steps to make it a success,” he said.

Interestingly, Reddy is the only Chief Minister who suggested a partial lockdown while the heads of all other state governments including Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao of neighbouring Telangana, wanted the lockdown to continue for two more weeks with more stringent guidelines.

Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao went a step ahead and suggested that the Reserve Bank of India print new currency of '10 lakh crore and distribute it to states to take up livelihood support programmes.

Building the case for relaxing the lockdown, Jagan said out of 676 mandals in the state only 37 were identified as red zones, 44 orange and the remaining were green zones which are not affected by Covid-19.

While continuing the lockdown in red zone mandals, the restrictions on large gatherings in places like malls, cinema halls and educational institutions may be continued, he said.

Expressing concern that the livelihood of migrants and daily wage earners besides farmers was badly hit due to the lockdown, the Chief Minister said the wheels of the economy had come to a grinding halt and the state revenues had dried up.

“It has to move on if not in full speed but to the extent of achieving sustenance,” he said adding that there was no proper facility to transport the agri and aqua produce.

Jagan referred to spread of virus in India in 1918 which lasted for two years and said the strategy should be drawn with a perspective that Covid-19 containment is going to be a long drawn battle. The Chief Minister explained various initiatives of the state government to provide effective health care.