Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday once again urged the Centre to allow the states to decide on red, green, orange zones based on the severity of the coronavirus situation in the districts under their jurisdiction during the fourth phase of the lockdown.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Baghel said it is necessary to restart business and commercial activities with complete precaution in order to bring the economy back on track during the fourth phase of lockdown, an official statement issued here said.
However, he also cautioned that opening of inter-state borders at this moment will not be appropriate, it added.
"The state should have rights for demarcation of its districts into green, orange and red zones on the basis of coronavirus cases. The Centre should fix transparent criteria for the purpose," Baghel said in the letter.
In a letter written to the PM on Monday, Baghel had made a similar demand.
At present, the Centre decides on the demarcation of areas as red, green, orange zones on the basis of coronavirus cases.
"Permission should be given to allow the sale of essential as well as non-essential items in all areas, except containment zones. All types of showrooms and workshops related to vehicles should be allowed to operate," he said in the letter.
Though hotels can be permitted to provide only lodging facilities with the condition of maintaining social distancing, restaurants, bars, spa, etc in these premises should not be given any relaxations, he said.
Opening of inter-state borders at this moment will not be appropriate and inter-state transport should be allowed only for ferrying labourers and other people stranded due to lockdown, he said.
"Restrictions should remain on the non-essential interstate transport till June 15," he added.