From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 22: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said nearly 80% of industries in the State were working to 60% capacity after the relaxation of the lockdown restrictions over the COVID 19 pandemic and expressed the hope that the industrial and economic climate was bound to improve in the coming months.

Addressing the 12th Horasis India summit organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the theme, 'economic revival in the post-COVID situation', in Bengaluru on Monday, he said the new industrial policy unveiled by his government for 2019-24 would help in creating employment opportunities in a big way.

Yediyurappa said the State Government was committed to give a boost to industrial development and has already constituted a special task force comprising of representatives from the industry to identify and facilitate new opportunities for attracting investments in the State.

He said the State Government has already brought in legal changes for establishing the Karnataka Innovation Authority and regulate the creation of sandbox.

The State Government was striving to check the spread of the Corona virus pandemic round the clock, the Chief Minister said warmly appreciating the service rendered by the Corona Warriors such as doctors, nurses and other medical professional as well as non-governmental organisations to help the people.

With the gradual relaxation of the lockdown restrictions, the State was slowly resuming the economic and business activities. But for the educational institutions such as schools and colleges, public entertainment and cinema theaters almost all activities have started functioning. Even metro rail and air travel were resuming, he said.

The Chief Minister said the State Government has permitted gradual opening of the tourism activities even while ensuring the safety and protection of tourists. Steps have been taken to help almost all major sections of the vulnerable people, he said.

Commerce and Industries Department Principal Secretary Gaurav Gupta and Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary P Ravikumar were present.

Concern over alarming rise of cases in Bengaluru

Earlier, the Chief Minister held a separate meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials on the sharp rise in COVID 19 cases in Bengaluru and discussed steps to be taken to ensure effective implementation of the preventive measures.

As the number of cases in the City were increasing 'at an alarming rate', the Chief Minister reiterated the need for strict enforcement of the containment measures, especially in KR Market and surrounding areas of Siddapura, V V Puram, Kalasipalya etc and seal down even the adjoining streets wherever Corona positive cases were reported.

Stringent action must be taken against those who violate quarantine and FIR has to be filed if necessary, Yediyurappa said directing officers to fix rates for treatment of COVID patients in private hospitals to enable patients avail treatment in private hospitals.

The Chief Minister wanted fever clinics to be set up in all wards in the city and directed the officers to maintain hygiene and provide other basic amenities to the people who were quarantined in hostels run by the Social Welfare Department and other government institutions.

COVID 19 cases should be contained without affecting the economic activities in Bengaluru, which resumed recently, Yediyurappa said instructing that booth level officers and volunteers who were working to trace contract and monitor on quarantined persons must be given full support.

"War rooms shall have real time information on availability of beds in various COVID hospitals and facilitate the infected to avail treatment without losing any time,’’ he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwathnarayana, Revenue Minister R Ashoka, Home Minister Basavaraja Bommai, Chief Secretary to Government T M Vijaya Bhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Vandita Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of Health Department Jawaid Akhthar and other senior officers were present.