Yamuna Expressway Township To Lucknow Hotels: UP Acquires New Addresses For Migrants, Doctors In Corona Lockdown

Hit by the exodus of the migrants from neighbouring Delhi during the coronavirus lockdown, the Yogi Adityanath government has come up with a unique solution. In an unprecedented move, the Uttar Pradesh government took over the entire Jaypee Yamuna Expressway township to shelter the migrants. The order was issued by the District Magistrate of Gautam Budhha Nagar. According to the order, the decision was taken by the authorities under the power granted by the clauses of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897. This means that the authorities can use the buildings and other places in the areas as shelter homes and medical facilities for the migrants. (Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates)

In another order on Monday morning, the Lucknow administration took over four hotels in the state capital for the medical staff. "Hyatt Regency and Fairdeal Hotel have been acquired for the doctors/medical staff of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences. The Piccadily hotel and Lemon Tree Hotel have been acquired for the doctors/staff of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences," the order said.

The Chief Minister will be visiting Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut to take stock of the situation. Yogi Adityanath has also written a letter to other Chief Ministers appealing them to take care of the migrants. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has also transferred Rs 611 crores in the accounts of 27.15 lakh MNREGA labourers. The amount was transferred electronically to help the labourers in the situation of lockdown due to coronavirus.

The Centre on Sunday asked state governments and Union Territory administrations to effectively seal state and district borders to stop movements of migrant workers during lockdown, officials said. During a video conference with Chief Secretaries and DGPs, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked them to ensure that there is no movement of people across cities or on highways as the lockdown continues. "There has been a movement of migrant workers in some parts of the country. Directions were issued that district and state borders should be effectively sealed," a government official said.

(With agency inputs)