Ranchi admin takes anti-Covid measures as fresh unlock phase begins

Ranchi: In fighting the Covid-19 outbreak in Ranchi district, the administration and the police have an added responsibility of implementing the standard operating procedures (SOP) as the state government on Friday announced fresh unlock norms allowing hotels, restaurants and intra-state bus transport to operate.
Talking to TOI, Ranchi DC Chhavi Ranjan said, “We have been keeping a check on violations by any kind of business establishments since the first unlock began and we will continue to monitor the situation through our special teams.We are only expecting a rise in the number of complaints but anyone flouting the norms will be taken to task.”
As of August 28, over 100 business establishments and several persons were booked by the district administration’s special teams by way of surprise inspections, complaint redressal sand regular monitoring. Establishments flouting the norms were sealed and asked to reply within 72 hours through an affidavit.
Ranchi SDM Lokesh Mishra said, “Currently, unlock guideline violators are being booked under the Disaster Management Act, Epidemic disease Act and the IPC. To prevent further spread of the infection, we will intensify random checks at establishments which have been allowed to operate. On many occasions, we get inputs from the public over the phone at the control room numbers and the violators are booked.”
Mishra said, “After detecting a violation in a business establishment, we seal the premise for 72 hours and if the owners submit an undertaking on our queries with a promise not to repeat the violations after taking up the required measures, they are allowed to operate.”
SSP Surendra Kumar Jha said the police’s role is to ensure implementation of the existing restrictions and avert any kind of law and order situation. Jha also said police might review the situation and come up with a fresh strategy soon.
SP (city) Saurav said, “We will focus on implementation of the key rules, including social distancing, wearing of masks and observance of the transport department orders. Our attention will be put on checking aimless movement of people.”
Federation of Jharkhand Chambers of Commerce and Industries president Kunal Ajmani said the administration should desist from making the business houses a soft target while implementing the norms. “While the administration is sealing shops for small faults like failure in maintaining visitors’ register, no action is being taken against people who crowd the streets,” Ajmani said.