Explore all ways to generate additional revenue, says CM

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the Covid-19 disease had adversely affected the state’s economy and all possibilities should be explored for generating additional revenue. The chief minister was presiding over a high level meeting here on Saturday to review the lockdown situation.

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has already approved proposals making petrol, diesel and liquor costlier, through which the government hopes to earn an additional Rs 4,429 crore in 2020-2021. While the state government would get an additional Rs 2,079 crore by the decision to increase VAT on petrol and diesel, an additional Rs 2,350 crore would be earned by the increase in prices of liquor.

Besides, the government expects to save Rs 12,000 crore by its decision to freeze or defer several allowances of employees and pensioners. The suspension of Vidhayak Nidhi and 30% cut in salaries of ministers and legislators will save another Rs 1550 crore. All these measures were announced recently.

Asserting that increasing the immunity level of the body can prevent infection, Adityanath said the ‘Aayush Kavach Covid’ app launched by the state government has a host of information on Ayurveda, which can be

adopted by people to boost their immunity. He added that the application should be widely publicised and people encouraged to download it.

Yogi Adityanath expressed satisfaction over relief work in the state. The state government had provided food grains to 18 crore people in three phases and this number was much more than population of many countries, he said.

The chief minister said the recovery rate of Covid-19 patients in UP was 42%, about 13% more than the national average of 29.2%.

He also said UP was number one in respect to pool testing in India. At present, 53,400 beds were available in L1, L2 and L3 Covid hospitals against target of 52,000 beds, the chief minister said.

Training programmes should be held for doctors and paramedical staff to ensure protection of medical and health teams. He said a special campaign should be launched for effective control of malaria, dengue and various contagious diseases. Cow dung from cow shelter homes should be used to make compost for agricultural fields, he suggested.