After imposing lockdown 2.0, Uddhav Thackeray writes to PM Narendra Modi detailing situation in state and demanding specific solutions for it; oxygen supply is the most crucial to treat severe patients
A passenger tested at Dadar station. Pic/Ashish Raje
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the COVID-19 pandemic a natural calamity, in order to provide relief to citizens whose livelihood has been seriously affected due to the lockdown. Thackeray has written two separate letters to Modi with regard to expanding relief with the Centre’s help, and making oxygen and Remdesivir injections available immediately.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the state, a mini-lockdown is a necessity. The pandemic may be notified as a natural calamity for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Accordingly, the state may be allowed to pay Gratuitous Relief (GR) of Rs 100 per adult per day and R60 per child per day during the period of lockdown to all the Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) family members whose names are included in the AAY and PHH ration cards,” Thackeray said, adding the said expenditure may be allowed from the SDRF during the current financial year. The CM said since the state faced financial crunch, the first instalment of central share of SDRF should be released.
Health workers on door-to-door screening duty at Dharavi on Thursday
After announcing a relief package worth Rs 5,400 crore on Wednesday, Thackeray has faced criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not doing enough for the affected people. Written on the day Thackeray announced a mini-lockdown, one of his letters seeks the BJP top leadership’s intervention for widening the relief measures in Maharashtra where a non-BJP Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) rules. If the Centre’s approval doesn’t come, the MVA will certainly have one more reason to accuse the Modi government of partiality. The state and Centre leaders have been fighting over pandemic-related issues, including supplies, financial assistance and vaccination.
‘Need of 2,000MT oxygen’
“The biggest concern to the state is Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) supplies. The requirement of medical oxygen in the state is crossing the total capacity of 1,200 MT (daily) of LMO manufacturing. We have projected the demand will be close to 2,000 MT per day by April end,” said Thackeray.
Uddhav Thackeray. Pic/Ashish Raje
“As you are aware, in the first peak during September 2020, the entire country had 10.5 lakh active COVID-19 patients as peak caseload, whereas based on current projections and highly transparent testing, Maharashtra state alone could have 11.9 lakh cases by April 30 at the current growth rate,” said the CM.
According to Thackeray the state has been allowed to get oxygen from steel plants in eastern and southern India. “We have also started lifting quantities from nearby locations. But some of these are long distances and face disruption risks, I request you to press in NDMA (National Disaster Management Act) for this
movement and all options including air-lifting these quantities be considered,” he said.
A passenger being tested at CSMT on Thursday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
The CM has welcomed the ban on Remdesivir export. He wants the Centre to facilitate approval to exporting units to produce and sell Remdesivir in the domestic market.
Rs 5,400cr
Relief package announced by the CM on Wednesday
What the CM wants
. Three month’s extension to submit the GST returns for small and medium taxpayers
. The state may be allowed to pay Gratuitous Relief (GR) of Rs 100/- per adult per day and Rs 60/- per child per day during the period of lockdown to all the Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) family members.
. Ask banks to defer loan recovery instalments of small scale industries, businesses, start-ups at least in the first quarter of the current financial year. This is akin to Force Majeure for business relationships between these entrepreneurs and banks.
. Air-lifting of oxygen from other states, increase in Remdesivir supply.
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