Extension of lockdown not being planned, says Cab Sec

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday described as “baseless” reports in sections of the media that the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19 would be extended.

“I am surprised to see such reports, there is no such plan to extend the lockdown,” said Mr Gauba, the top bureaucrat in the country. The 21-day lockdown is due to continue till April 14.

Earlier in the day, state broadcaster Prasar Bharati and the government’s Press Information Bureau had also tweeted that there was no plan to extend the lockdown beyond April 14. The denial came as certain media reports speculated that the government might extend the lockdown.

“There are rumours and media reports claiming that the government will extend the #Lockdown21 when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated they are baseless,” tweeted the PIB, using the hashtag #PIBFactCheck.

Initially, after announcing the lockdown, the Centre had stopped all public transport and non-essential goods’ movement.

However, as work and livelihoods came to an abrupt halt, and thousands of migrant workers who worked as daily wagers in Delhi and other major cities started moving towards their native villages on foot with their families and belongings in tow, the Union government on March 29 revised its initial orders and allowed the transportation of all goods without the distinction of “essential” and “non-essential”.

State authorities have been told to provide food and shelter facilities to migrant workers.