Administrator tells Councillors can play important role in COVID-19 fight
Chandigarh, August 18:- Sh. V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh called interaction through video conference with MP, Mayor and all councilors of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh to discuss the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and seek their valuable suggestions for the regarding management in Chandigarh.
Smt. Kirron Kher, Member Parliament, Sh. Manoj Parida, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, Smt. Raj Bala Malik, Mayor, Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary Home, Sh. Sanjay Beniwal, IPS, DGP, Sh. K.K. Yadav, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Sh. Ravi Kant Sharma, Senior Deputy Mayor, Sh. Jagtar Singh, Deputy Mayor, senior officers and councilors of MCC were present in the meeting.
The Administrator said that every citizen is fighting the battle against the challenging situation arising due to coronavirus pandemic. Role of each and every representative of citizens i.e. councilors is very significant in overall control of the spread of the disease.
He said that the involvement of councilors to fight the battle of COVID-19 is very important since they were the ones who have greater accessibility and could keep track of patients within their respective wards. He said that councilors get feedback from people and they very well know the gaps in implementation of steps to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Administrator asked all the councilors to give their suggestions to fight the battle of COVID-19 in writing so that maximum benefit may be obtained from their experience.
While expressing her concern over the COVID-19, Smt. Kirron Kher, Member Parliament, Chandigarh said that Nursing homes in Chandigarh be allowed to join the Govt. Hospitals to fight the battle against COVID-19. She said that the city will be in better solution with the availability of hospital beds/ventilators through the nursing homes for treatment of the disease. She said that it will strengthen the medical facilities we are giving in Chandigarh.
Smt. Raj Bala Malik, Mayor expressed her gratitude towards the Administrator and the team of officers, Member Parliament and all the councilors for their contribution in fight against the battle of COVID-19. She raised concern over the development as well as maintenance works falling under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and demanded funds from the Administrator to carry out the same.
MC Councillors also raised their concern to curb the spread of disease and said that they are ready to volunteer themselves for the noble cause and for serving the society. They said that teams be formed in area level, which will inform the Administration for taking due course of action according to area based requirements.
The councilors said that screening will be enhanced specially in colonies and villages besides creating awareness among masses through local volunteers to follow social distancing, to take precautions i.e. wearing masks, developing habits of washing hands frequently after touching anything from outside etc.
The councilors raised suggestion to provide helpline numbers in each COVID-19 quarantine centers to the local area so that the family members of the positive case may co-ordinate with them through the helpline numbers.
They further suggested that helpline number is required in the PGI to co-ordinate during the fatality cases with the family members and close relatives. They suggested that traffic coming from outside city be monitored strictly and proper screening be done at all the entry points of Chandigarh. The councilors suggested to impose heavy penalty against the violators, who does not wear mask in the public.
The councilors suggested that baggers be strictly banned in city. They said that to create awareness among masses two minutes schedule of taking precautions against the spread of COVID-19 be added through online classes of every schools following slogans like “Rokiye Aur Tokiye”. Strict discipline be maintained among mobile street vendors and violators be challaned with heavy penalty besides facilities be ensured and monitored properly in quarantine centers.
