Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demands PM declare Covid-19 pandemic a natural disaster

CM Uddhav Thackeray in two separate letters to PM Narendra Modi has demanded ex-gratia financial assistance to poor, priority group families. Allow transportation of oxygen by air, also requested for availability of Remdesivir

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Mumbai: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has in two separate letters written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday demanded that the Centre declare Covid-19 as a natural disaster. He further demanded that the Centre should immediately release its share of funds for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), so that the same could be utilised by the state to provide immediate Gratuitous Relief to the ration card holders of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority groups during the lockout period.

He has further demanded allowing transportation of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) by air against the backdrop of oxygen shortage in the state. While thanking the Centre for banning export of Remdesivir injection, Thackeray stated that exporters of these drugs should be given permanent licenses so that they can sell Remdesivir in the local market.

Thackeray further demanded that the Centre defer payment of loan installment for small scale industries, start-ups and also defer filing of Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns for traders and businesses for April-May by another three months.

Regarding the supply of oxygen, the Chief Minister said that a large number of tests are being conducted in the state and a large number of patients are being found. By April 30, the number is expected to reach 11.9 lakh. Last year, in September 2020, there were 10.5 lakh active patients in the country. With 5.64 lakh active patients in the state today, the shortage of oxygen for medical purposes is a matter of great concern.

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Today, the state needs more than 1,200 metric tons of oxygen. By the end of April, the demand for oxygen could reach 2,000 metric tons per day. While the central government has approved to take oxygen from steel projects in the eastern and southern parts of the country, we are also providing oxygen from local and surrounding places. However, in order to save time, urgent action needs to be taken under the National Disaster Management Act (NDMA) to divert this oxygen by other means, mainly by air.

Remdesivir should be made available

Expressing gratitude for the decision to suspend export of Remdesivir, Chief Minister Thackeray said that under section 92 of the Indian Patent Act, 1970, exporters of these drugs should be given permanent licenses so that they can sell Remdesivir in the local market.

Financial assistance to poor and priority families

The Chief Minister also requested the central government to declare Covid contagion as a natural calamity under the State Disaster Response Fund and allow the state government to provide Rs 100 per day per adult and Rs 60 per day per child as Gratuitous Relief to the ration card holders of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority groups during the lockout period.

The Chief Minister said that the first installment of the Centre’s share in the SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) should also be received immediately so as to help encounter the economic situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regarding non-payment of loan installment

Many small-scale industries, start-ups, businesses have taken loans from banks in various schemes of the Central Government. In the current situation, they are suffering. Restrictions are also putting financial strain on them. In view of this, the Chief Minister also said that in the first quarter of the current financial year, instructions should be given to the banks not to accept installment from them.

GST refund should be extended

The Chief Minister has also demanded that the March-April GST refund period be extended for another three months as small traders and industries are facing difficulties due to Covid infection.