Minister seeks clarity on repatriation flights

TRIVANDRUM: Junior aviation minister V Muralidharan on Thursday asked the Kerala government to bring clarity on the number of repatriation flights it had allowed.

He was responding to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had said it was ready to receive any number of flights.

However, the federal minister, quoting from a state government’s letter to his ministry, said it had limited the number of international flights to 12 a day.

“We informed the state that there would be a total of 24 flights to Kerala from the Gulf region alone, a day,” he said quoting from the communication.

“But the state replied, agreeing to allow the landing of only 12 flights a day from anywhere in the world. It translates into 360 flights a month.”

He repeated his demand for allowing six flights from Gulf regions to each one of the state’s four international airports every day.

Currently, the state’s clearance is required for flights to its airport as per the standard operating protocol imposed after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

The states should examine and arrange quarantine facilities for the repatriates.

On Wednesday, Vijayan denied any restrictions on the evacuation flights and said the government had permitted 700 flights this month.

“The state has agreed to 360 flights under the Vande Bharat mission Phase II and 40 chartered flights from the Gulf countries,” he said.

“All those who desire to come back to Kerala will be brought in, and they will be taken care of here. There are no restrictions.”

NRI DEPOSITS

With the pall of gloom set in on the return of thousands of expats from foreign countries due to COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala banks are witnessing a surge in NRI deposits, according to reports.

Coinciding with their decision to return home, NRIS are transferring most of their savings from foreign banks to accounts in Kerala.

This has resulted in the increase in deposits as this money is not withdrawn locally at least for the time being.

Many Keralites have opted for resettling in Kerala along with their families.

The funds they bring in are expected to be utilised for setting up own businesses or entrepreneurial ventures.

Bank deposits of NRI clients witnessed a downturn before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amajorportionofthesedepositswerewithdrawn earlier for various purposes. In the February-march period, Rs12 billion had been withdrawn from the NRI accounts of Canara Bank in Kerala.