Trivendra Singh Rawat: ‘Can’t leave people on the roads… will continue bringing migrants’

Trivendra Singh Rawat said, "A huge number of people from Uttarakhand live in other states. Many of them want to come back amid the pandemic. More than 2.5 lakh people have registered so far."

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat speaks to Lalmani Verma on the fight against Covid-19, the economic challenge the state faces and how it plans to make migrants stay.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected Uttarakhand’s economy and what efforts have you initiated for its revival? Is there any estimate of the quantum of loss?

A single-window system has been set up so that industrialists can conveniently obtain permissions to start their units. Industries manufacturing goods essential for protection from Covid-19 have been exempted from closure during lockdown. Industrial activities have been started as per guidelines of the Central government. Thousands of industries have been given permission to operate and over two lakh labourers will be accommodated there. Many of these industries have started operation. Mining has started seeing demand from construction activities. The last date for payment of lease rent in SIIDCUL Industrial area has been extended from April 30 to June 30. The date for renewal of clearance under Water and Air Pollution Control Acts too has been extended till June 30. The Prime Minister has announced an economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore for the country in which a major relief has been given to MSME sector. Majority of industries in Uttarakhand are in the MSME sector that will benefit from the package.