KCR asks Modi not to resume train services

KCR: Hyd would produce Covid vaccine by July-August

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, on 11 May, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to resume passenger train services which had been halted as part of preventive measures to contain the spread of Corona virus in the country. KCR was hopeful that Hyderabad would successfully produce a vaccine for COVID-19 by July or August.

KCR was speaking to Mr Modi during the Prime Minister's video conference with Chief Ministers on Monday.

The Chief Minister said if train services resumed it would be impossible to keep track of people travelling from one state to another. It is impossible to test everyone and difficult to put all those who travel by trains under quarantine, he said, urging Mr Modi to not allow trains to ply.

He told the PM that both the Centre and state governments should work together to contain the virus. KCR was confident that victory over the pandemic was possible and said companies in Hyderabad were working on developing a vaccine for the novel Corona virus. "There is a chance that the vaccine may be produced in Hyderabad by July or August. Once the vaccine is available, there will be a marked change in the situation," he said, adding the Telangana government has taken all measures to contain the virus. Medical equipment, medicines, masks, PPE kits, and beds are available and there will be no scarcity, he said.

Regarding the impact of the pandemic on the economy, KCR said since there were no revenues, no state was in a position to repay the loans. "Hence, all loans of state governments should be rescheduled in the same way that banks reschedule farm loans," he suggested.

On the issue of migrant workers, the Chief Minister said all state governments should act humanely and added, "We are a nation with sentiments. The migrant workers left behind their children and parents in their native states. Now, they want to go back home and be with their families. Once they visit their homes, they will feel better and will come back again. It is a good decision to run Shramik trains. We are sending back those migrant workers who want to leave Telangana. However, many are coming back. Workers from Bihar who work in state rice mills have returned by special trains. We welcome them and have taken proper precautions." He also suggested enhancing the FRBM limits.

KCR said that lockdown regulations should be strictly implemented in the containment zones and there should be no laxity. He urged the Centre to convert places with zero positive cases into green or orange zones. "Corona is not going to leave us now and we have to live with it. We have to lead people in this direction. First of all, we should remove the fear of Corona virus and learn to live with it," he said.