Economic, development activities should begin in full swing: Gourav Gupta

Dharwad: Secretary to the department of commerce and industries Gourav Gupta, who is also the secretary in-charge of Dharwad district, has directed the officials to see that economic and development activities begin in full swing in the district.

Chairing a meeting of district-level officials to review the Lockdown 4.0 situation on Thursday, he said permission has now been granted to restart infrastructure development and construction works, which had been stopped during lockdown.

He said industrial units should also be fully operational. “In case of problems in mobilising raw materials or shortage of skilled workers, industrialists should submit their requirements to the district administration, and the government will try to solve the problems, if any,” Gupta said.

To step up industrial activities, permission has been granted to run factories and industries in night shift and also on Sundays. “Industries at industrial areas should resume their operation without any delay. Shortage of labourers will be eased by mobilising them from nearby places,” he said.

Gupta said the economic package announced for floriculturists and taxi drivers should reach the beneficiaries, and the officials of the departments concerned should ensure the same. “Infrastructure works which were taken up by NHAI, PWD, HDMP, Smart City Project and RDPR departments should be restarted and completed before the onset of monsoon,” he asserted.

Covid-19 testing

Referring to the Covid-19 testing in the district, Gupta said that of the 14,000 persons who have been tested so far, 12,500 have tested negative.The results of the remaining 1,500 are awaited. The administration has to see that there is not much delay in getting timely lab test results, he added.

DC Deepa Cholan said the district has 32 active cases, and 11 persons have been discharged from KIMS Hospital.

Gupta visited some of the institutional quarantine facilities in Dharwad and spoke to the inmates.