Himachal loses Rs 400 crore to lockdown
Shimla: Novel Coronavirus spread and lockdown conditions have caused a loss of Rs 400 crore to Himachal Pradesh.
The revenue collections have crashed to Rs 46 crore against Rs 450 crore in just a month's time. Main components of revenue in Himachal Pradesh include taxation, excise collections, hydro-power sale and receipts from the mining.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, at a Press conference, said state government's immediate focus is to plug the spread of Coronavirus. Revival of the economic activity will depend on how things emerge in the next week or 10 days time.
"Right now, our efforts are focused only to control the spread of COVID -19. That's why we are much better than some other states. We are not proposing to lifting restrictions barring certain necessities," said Chief Minister.
He admitted that those stuck outside, especially students, are facing hardships and very tough time. They want to come back to their families. The government has resisted this pressure for 21 days, and feel few more days patience is needed to overcome the crisis.
"You will be surprised someone posted my phone number on Facebook for reaching out to the government for help. Within 30 months, I was flooded with 70 to 80 distress calls. All these were from those stuck outside at different places. It's very well understandable how much anxiety they are passing through each moment," he admitted.
Yet, Thakur made it clear that no inter-district or inter-state movement will be permitted. If someone lands up at the borders despite the restrictions, he or she will be sent to 14 days quarantine.
Asked how come Ram Swaroop Sharma, BJP MP from Mandi, was allowed to proceed to his home after he had travelled from Delhi despite restrictions, Chief Minister said his attention was drawn toward this. He immediately got in touch with MP, who has now opted for home quarantine and has'nt met his family, or anyone else.
Chief Minister rejected the charges levelled by CPM MLA Rakesh Singha regarding 129 Kashmiri migrant labourers, struck at Jama Masjid being denied relief and they being harassed.
"It's wrong to say Kashmiris were denied ration. They were also approached by the local administration with ration. Two NGOs also went to them to distribute food. They turned down the offers asserting they had some arrangements with dharbas at Masjid. They are adamant to return homes. Such a possibility is ruled out under given conditions," Thakur explained.
He asked Singha, who on Monday, started dharna outside Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) office, not to do this to score political points in pandemic situation.
Deputy Commissioner Shimla Amit Kashyap said ration was delivered to them on Sunday, and even earlier.Their main demand is to send them to Jammu thus they have created a fuss on ration issue.
Fiaz Ahmad, one of the Kashmiri labourer, who earlier made statements alleging partiality in the ration distribution to the migrants workers, said "ration was given but it was too less for 129 persons. We are asking for returning homes .It's our main issue".
