Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government has appointed a Nodal Authority to issue Authoriaation Certificate for exemption from import duty for relief material pertaining to COVID-19 containment and management.

The Nodal Authority consists of Uma Mahadevan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and Priyanka Mary Francis, IAS, Commissioner, Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, according to official sources here.

In view of the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the second wave, the Union Government has given exemption from customs duty for importing free of cost essential relief material pertaining to COVID-19 containment and management from foreign countries.

Those who are interested to import essential relief material free of cost for COVID-19 have to obtain Authorisation Certificate for exemption from customs duty.