Mamata urges PM to suspend operation of int'l flights immediately

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately suspend operation of international flights, to check the spread of COVID-19.

This comes when the Bengal government has invoked West Bengal Epidemic Disease COVID19 Regulation 2020 that gives power to the state to take people to a quarantine centre if they refuse to remain in home isolation after returning from abroad, or if one is not taking precautionary steps despite knowing that he/she may be suffering from the disease.

She made the request to the Prime Minister during video conference with all chief ministers on Friday evening. Banerjee held a Press conference at Nabanna after the video conference and said: "Bengal, Maharashtra and Telangana have raised the demand of immediate suspension of international flights that is stated to continue till March 22. I have asked to stop it immediately."

She said during a Press conference earlier on Friday: "Flights are still bringing in people to Kolkata from Qatar, Singapore, Dhaka and Dubai. Already 1 lakh brothers and sisters have come to the city from abroad. I will urge all people to cooperate and go for self-isolation. Many were found not taking the precautionary measures after returning from abroad. One must not move around freely in such cases."

The Chief Minister further said that now the government has power to take one to state-run quarantine centres, if he/she doesn't take precautionary measures after returning from abroad, as the notification in this regard has already been issued by Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha.

She had expressed her dissatisfaction on Thursday over the screening tests taking place at the airports.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure quick clearance required to set up laboratories and also send medical kits essential to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We have informed about the shortage of required kits. There are only 40 kits available with us and the Centre can only provide the same. We have also raised the issue about the necessity of setting up more number of laboratories. He said a total of 110 labs will be set up. At present, there are only 74. So, only around 30 more laboratories will be set up which is insufficient. We have urged for clearances to set up seven laboratories in the state," she said, adding that no assurances have been given yet but he informed that the matter has been noted.

Bengal and Punjab have also demanded that the Centre ensure supply of additional foodgrains in such a situation, Banerjee said, adding that she has also placed a demand seeking a plan of action to support the people involved in the unorganised sector.