Give power to states to decide on economic activities: Baghel

During a video conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers of all the states on Monday, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said the state governments should be given the power to decide on conducting economic activities within their respective states.

"The state governments should be given the responsibility of designating the red, green and orange zones with regard to the coronavirus infection," Baghel said.

He said the current situation will change with the resumption of rail service. Regular train, air and inter-state bus services should be started in consultation with the state governments, the Chief Minister said, besides suggesting 200 days' wages under MNREGA.

He also suggested allowing expenditure of SDMRC budget for transportation of migrant workers.

Economic activities have been badly affected in Chhattisgarh due to the coronavirus induced lockdown, resulting in loss of revenues. The economically weaker sections of the society are the most affected due to the lockdown, Baghel said.

The Chief Minister also urged the Prime Minister to keep the state's fiscal deficit as an exception this year at 5 per cent of GSDP besides relaxing the borrowing limit to 6 per cent of GSDP.

Baghel also demanded an assistance of Rs 30,000 crore for the state. The Chief Minister said that in order to provide relief to the needy people of Chhattisgarh in this hour of crisis, the amount, which was donated to the PM-CARE Fund by the industrial institutions of the state as CSR, should be transferred to the state.

"FCI has taken 24 lakh metric tonnes of rice from the state, I request the Prime Minister to allow it to be increased to 31.11 lakh metric tones," the Chief Minister said.

( With inputs from IANS )