Mamata asks Centre to reconsider resumption of international flights
Kolkata, 26 June (HS) West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday came down heavily on the Union government for deciding to resume international flights in the country including to and from Kolkata, and demanded immediate roll back for the time being following sudden surge in Covid-19 cases .
She also criticized Centre for the abnormal and unabated hike in fuel prices when the global price of crude oil came down substantially to around $40 a barrel now.
The chief minister said, in the present era of pandemic when the people were afraid to welcome any outsider, there was no justification to resume the international flights at least for the next few months.
Citing the example of alleged inadequate Covid testing of some passengers even in domestic flights, and the lack of quarantine facilities, the CM said it was shocking to note that one passenger from Chennai who was a Covid-19 positive, arrived in Kolkata recently and even went straight to hospital here for treatment.
How come he evaded the test at Chennai airport? she asked and expressed her apprehension that similar instances might occur once again if international flights were allowed to operate to and from all major cities of the country, including Kolkata.
As an alternative, she suggested that only one international flight could be operated once a month and two or three domestic flights, except those to Bagdogra and Andal in the state, could be operated to help contain the sudden surge in Covid cases. She urged the Union Government once again to reconsider its decision.
