Strong lockdown ensues at sensitive areas in city, Howrah

Kolkata: Strong lockdown has been imposed at the "red zones" in Kolkata and Howrah on Monday, with police and local administration ensuring all measures to make people stay at home to contain the spread of COVID-19.

This comes at a time when Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha has once again appealed to the people, saying that proper lockdown cannot be imposed only by the administration and the police as cooperation of people is needed since it is a matter of one's responsibility to the society.

Sinha said: "We are again appealing to people to stay at home. It cannot be enforced only by the administration or police force. It is a matter of self discipline and ones responsibility. We have received reports that a section of people are coming out of their houses on various excuses. They are not only risking their own lives, but also of their family and neighbours."

"We are heading towards strict barricading at sensitive zones in Kolkata and Howrah. At the same time we are also ensuring that essentials will be arranged for the residents of these areas. The mechanism of Agriculture Marketing department's Sufal Bangla outlets is also being strengthened. Police and local civic body will extend all support to the people," he added.

The state government has also not given sanction to the application of 375 industries and entrepreneurs to start functioning as those are situated at sensitive zones. Labourers from these areas have also not been given passes to go and work in any units.

As many as 1,500 applications were received by the

Chief Secretary, of 300 were given necessary clearances to run their units following set norms.

When asked about banks, Sinha said: "No organisation including private or of state or Central government is allowed to function if it is situated in any containment zone, as there is no other way out at present apart from imposing complete lockdown in these areas."

Barricading will also be done at marketplaces and not more than 5 people are being allowed to enter the same at a time. He, however, said that so far there is no report of any community transmission, as per ICMR.

More strict measures are being taken for the sensitives zones in Kolkata, Howrah and North 24-Parganas and necessary arrangements have been made to make people stay at home.

In Howrah, complete lockdown has been imposed at different areas under the jurisdiction of Shibpur, Howrah and Malipanchghara police stations. Home delivery of food to residents of these areas has been ensured.

Haranganj Bazar and Pilkhana Market were closed, while 12 markets including those at Jagadishpur, Belgachia, Belur Station Road and Sankrail have been shifted. Area of 17 markets has been extended as well.

There was naka-checking at 30 strategic points in Howrah and as many as 86 people were arrested for violating lockdown norms. Fourteen of them were arrested after identifying them from video footages taken by the high resolution drones. 44 vehicles were seized including 39 two-wheelers and 3 four wheelers.

RAF was deployed and police also undertook bike patrolling at different areas. Sanitisation of different areas including police stations and traffic guards has also been carried out.

Similarly in Kolkata, there were reports of strong lockdown at 112 locations across the city. Police were found keeping a close watch at the situation to ensure that people do not move out of their houses without any valid reason.

Meanwhile, ASHA workers across the state started using the Sandhane App helping in mapping of the state for easy identification of the areas where there are more cases of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).