NEW DELHI: Here are some of the views expressed by chief ministers following a meeting the prime minister had with leaders and representatives of states on the fight against the novel coronavirus and the ongoing lockdown:
ODISHA
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought framing of a national standard operating procedure (SOP) for smooth movement of lakhs of people stranded across the country due to the lockdown imposed to combat COVID-19.
He highlighted that a large number of students, workers, pilgrims, patients and professionals were stranded in different parts of the country, far away from their homes.
Odisha also urged the Centre to take necessary steps to ensure that the workers grounded in different parts of the country are taken care of and looked after by the respective states in order to mitigate their plight.
TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu sought more RT-PCR kits from the Centre to ramp up its COVID-19 testing capacity to 10,000 a day from against existing 7,500.
Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami also sought the Centre's nod for making payment of wages by cash to workers under the rural employment guarantee scheme MGNREGA during the lockdown.
He said that GST compensation for December-January may be released now and demanded a relief package to ease burden on the power sector and support to MSMEs.
JHARKHAND
Jharkhand has decided not to implement till May 3 the Centre's guidelines giving relaxations to some shops due to a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the borders of Ranchi would be sealed to contain the spread of the virus. "We have taken some important decisions to stop the pandemic in view of the sudden rise in coronavirus cases in the state. The government will not implement the central guidelines to give relaxation to some shops," Soren told reporters.
GUJARAT
Gujarat favoured a gradual lifting of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that interests of daily wage labourers, small as well as big shop owners and self-earning people should be kept in mind if the lockdown is extended beyond May 3.
GOA
Goa suggested extension of the ongoing lockdown beyond May 3.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said he would also write to the prime minister, urging him to extend the shutdown.
UTTARAKHAND
Uttarakhand raised the issue of the devastating impact the novel coronavirus has on the tourism sector. "Uttarakhand has been a centre of tourism, especially religious tourism, which has suffered due to the lockdown," Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said.
The state is also working on gradually improving the economy.
Pharmaceutical and food-processing industries, besides many others, have resumed operations without compromising on the guidelines issued by the Centre.
MADHYA PRADESH
MEGHALAYA
Meghalaya wanted the lockdown in the state to continue beyond May 3 to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said some relaxations will be introduced in green zones and non-COVID-19 affected districts.
BIHAR
RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan prepared for the return of migrant workers stuck in other states due to the lockdown.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to the people of the state to extend all help and give moral support to those returning home after "a very hard period".
The Rajasthan government has deputed teams of senior officers to coordinate with other states on the return of migrants.
PUDUCHERRY
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said a majority of the CMs wanted the lockdown to continue after May 3 and asked the PM to adopt a cautious approach while opening it.
"Most chief ministers told the prime minister that the lockdown should continue and that some economic activity should be started slowly. The chief ministers were unanimous in telling the prime minister that the way the coronavirus is spreading in the country and cases are rising, there should be a cautious approach in opening the lockdown, and the prime minister should take a call on what needs to be done," he said.
HARYANA
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar urged the Centre to take quick steps to remove the uncertainty over the dates for competitive examinations like those for the defence services, the JEE exam for engineering colleges and the NEET for medical courses.
WEST BENGAL
West Bengal said that it is in favour of lockdown.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "The Centre is making conflicting statements on lockdown. There is no clarity. We are in favour of lockdown. But the Centre on one hand emphasises on enforcement of the lockdown, and on other hand it issues order to open shops. If you open shops, how would you enforce lockdown? I think the Centre should come out with a clarification."
ASSAM
Assam will allow standalone shops in rural areas, excluding containment zones, to reopen from April 28.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the state cabinet met following Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's video conference with Modi. "It was decided that shops in rural areas in green zones will be allowed to open from tomorrow, but no markets or haats will be permitted," Patowary said.