10 blocks in Salt Lake, New Town mkts under spl watch

Kolkata: With two wards — 32 and 41 — in Salt Lake under Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation area identified by the state government as Covid-19 sensitive areas, the civic authorities and Bidhannagar police have intensified the lockdown measures with special focus on these zones.

Though no specific area has been identified as Covid-19 sensitive in the neighbouring New Town, the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has also decided to intensify sanitization drive and make sure lockdown is strictly followed, particularly in the market areas.

In the two Salt Lake wards, which consists of ED, EE, DL, AA, AB, AC, AD, BB, BC and BD blocks, the civic body and police have strictly started enforcing lockdown by monitoring the market places. Mass sanitization drives inside the blocks and miking on the road urging people to stay indoors are also being taken up.

In New Town, NKDA is planning to have more intensive sanitization in all the blocks and apartment complexes. The authorities are also concentrating on the markets with special focus on controlled entry, handwashing and maintaining social distancing.

“While there has been no change in the general lockdown procedure, we have intensified police patrolling in some pockets of Salt Lake. We are keeping a close watch on people’s movement on road with the help of drones and patrol teams. Wherever a congregation of people is spotted without any real emergency, we are taking necessary actions,” said a senior officer of Bidhannagar Commissionerate.

“Our officials have been posted in the market areas and we are trying to keep the market functional only for three to four hours in the morning. We have done adequate miking in the area since Saturday evening and from Monday, our officials will be posted at the market gates to ensure they open and close within the stipulated timeframe,” said the official.

He, however, clarified that though some places had been cordoned off with guardrails on Saturday evening, most of them were removed by Sunday. But, adequate policemen have been posted on the road to ensure the lockdown protocol is strictly adhered to.

Bidhannagar mayor Krishna Chakraborty said sanitization drive was being increased in the areas from where Covid-19 cases have been reported.

“We are tensed as our block has been identified as a sensitive area,” said Kawshik Dutta, a resident of BD Block who lives with his elderly mother.

“The police had started putting up guardrails in our locality from Saturday but they were later removed. I personally feel this could have been useful. We are tensed over the overall situation and the lockdown rules must be followed,” said Sandip Sarkar, a resident of AD Block.

Ward 32 councillor Sudhir Saha and councillor of Ward 41 Anindya Chatterjee said sanitization had been intensified in all block localities.


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