We want to keep a restriction plan on till May 21, but Centre will decide on lockdown: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the state government is in favour of keeping a restriction plan in place till May 21, but the Centre will take a call on whether or not to continue with the lockdown.

“I want to make it clear that we are not suggesting a lockdown till May 21, but we want a restriction plan in place so that a green zone does not become a red zone due to lack of planning,” she said.

She said that she was not in favour of reopening long distance or local trains. Neither was she in favour of operation of flights. Banerjee said she wanted a firm plan on restricting inter-state movement of vehicles. “There must be talks between the states involved for any inter-state movement of vehicles,” she said, adding that the Centre must ensure there is no entry of people into states either from other countries or from other states.

Banerjee said that any extension of the ongoing lockdown will be announced by the Centre. The country-wide lockdown which started on March 24 midnight to contain Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is slated to end on May 3. The Centre is expected to make an announcement on this soon.