With cases spiking Karnataka towns get vocal for lockdown

BENGALURU: Inspired by Kanakapura town, which observed a self-imposed lockdown over the past fortnight, people from small towns and taluks across Karnataka have mooted their own versions to stem the pandemic spread.
This follows the government’s decision not to clamp a lockdown as experts and ministers feel restrictions would be counter-productive.
Channarayapatna in Hassan district will observe partial lockdown on one day and total lockdown the next for 12 days starting Monday.The administration coordinated with traders to ensure essential services won’t be impacted. “This people’s initiative won’t affect public transportation and government offices,” said Shravanabelagola MLA CN Balakrishna whose constituency covers Channarayapattna.
Other towns like Arasikere and Balupet in Sakleshpur are also experimenting with this model. Janata Dal (Secular) state president HK Kumaraswamy, who represents Sakleshpur assembly segment, will meet Hassan deputy commissioner on Monday about it.
Ballari City assembly constituency has a different version in which commercial activities are restricted between 9am and 3pm. “We’re ensuring traders and industries don’t suffer losses. We don’t have any deadline,” said Ballary City MLA G Somashekhar Reddy.
In Kunigal, the people’s lockdown started on Saturday and will be in force for the next 12 days.
DK Suresh, Bengaluru Rural MP, said the Kanakapura model has worked well. “A day before lockdown was implemented in Kanakapura there were 63 active cases with 34 positive cases reported on a single day. Now, they’re all cured and active cases are 17. The credit goes to people’s janata curfew,” said Suresh.
Meanwhile, traders from Yadgir, Kalaburgi, Gadag and Raichur have offered to limit their business for a few hours in the morning. N Yeshwanthraj of FKCCI said more small towns like Kolar Gold Fields and Nanjangud and Srirangapttana will follow suit.
In Bengaluru, jewellers decided to close their shops on Monday too. N Vidyasagar, president, Bengaluru Jewellers Association, said he’d BBMP commissioner BH Anil Kumar before announcing it.