‘Janata Curfew’ on both weekends of this month
   Date :17-Sep-2020

joshi_1  H x W:
 Sandip Joshi, Mayor; Radhakrishnan B, Municipal Commissioner; Vijay Zalke, Chairman of NMC Standing Committee, along with elected representatives and senior officers, during the meeting held at NMC on Wednesday.
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 

Future course of action to be decided after taking stock of the success of ‘Janata Curfew’ on September 19-20 and September 26-27, says Mayor
 
 
The elected representatives of the city expressed concern over rising cases of COVID-19 cases and deaths in a meeting called by Sandip Joshi, Mayor, on Wednesday. After the meeting, citing the demand from the elected representatives, the Mayor appealed to the people to strictly follow ‘Janata Curfew’ on both the weekends of this month -- September 19-20 and September 26-27. “Despite appeals by the civic body and the administration, irresponsible behaviour of some has created a serious situation. A section of people and elected representatives have been demanding lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 in city.
 
However, lockdown cannot be a solution to COVID-19 and the administration also is not in favour of it. Hence, we appeal to the people to respond to the situation in a responsible manner and strictly follow ‘Janata Curfew’ on both the weekends of this month,” said Joshi, while interacting with mediapersons after the meeting at NMC. The Mayor appealed to the people to stay at home from 9.30 pm on September 18 (Friday) to 7.30 am on September 21 (Monday). Similar appeal he made to the people for September 25 and September 28.
 
The period from Friday night to Monday morning, covers two full days -- Saturday and Sunday. He said that after the weekend ‘Janata Curfew’ this month, NMC would call another meeting with all elected representatives and decide on future course of action. During the period of ‘Janata Curfew’, he appealed, no shop or establishment should remain open except for medicine shops. He appealed to the traders also to extend co-operation to NMC in the initiative. Earlier, in the meeting, Joshi and other office-bearers of NMC and elected representatives took stock of number of hospitals in city, beds available, status of COVID Care Centres, availability of ambulances and hearse vans etc.
 
The elected representatives reportedly raised the demand of lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the city. Radhakrishnan B, however, felt that there was no need for lockdown. “People following all the guidelines as part of social responsibility is needed more than the lockdown. Lockdown is to prepare for the eventuality to come. However, now, city has various medical facilities. NMC is trying to augment the existing facilities. Hence, instead of lockdown, people should be asked to avoid going to crowded places and use sanitisers and masks, and follow social distancing,” he said in the meeting. Joshi and others agreed with the Municipal Commissioner.
 
The elected representatives said that though imposing lockdown was a decision to be taken by the State Government, there was need to enforce ‘Janata Curfew’ in the city at least for two days a week. As per the their suggestion, the Mayor appealed to the people to follow ‘Janata Curfew’ on both the remaining weekends of September. Nago Ganar and Girish Vyas, MLCs; Krishna Khopde, Vikas Kumbhare, and Mohan Mate, MLAs; Vijay Zalke, Chairman of NMC Standing Committee; Sandeep Jadhav, Ruling Party Leader in NMC; Tanaji Wanve, Leader of Opposition in NMC; Dayashankar Tiwari, senior corporator; Ram Joshi, Jalaj Sharma, and Sanjay Nipane, Additional Municipal Commissioners; Dr Chilkar, Health Officer, and others were present in the meeting.
 
‘NMC health services have improved’ The health services provided by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) have improved since Radhakrishnan B took over as Municipal Commissioner, claimed NMC in a press release issued on Wednesday. As per the NMC press release, since taking over as Municipal Commissioner, Radhakrishnan B focussed on increasing number of COVID-19 tests. Previously, RT-PCR test was conducted only at six centres in the city.
 
Now, the number of COVID Testing Centres has been increased to 50 and RT-PCR tests are conducted at all these centres. RT-PCR test is done even after Rapid Antigen Test, if required. Around 6,500 to 7,000 tests are being conducted daily in the city. As a result, the high-risk patients and pregnant women patients are being detected early. Previously, there were only seven COVID Hospitals. Now, NMC claimed, the number has been increased to 40, with availabilty of 3,500 beds. Besides, more beds are being made available at other private hospitals.
 
A 69-bed hospital of Railways also is ready. Besides, NMC has gone for direct recruitment of 271 medical students in the Final Year of MD, to boost treatment of COVID-19 patients. Besides, Radhakrishnan B has increased the number of ambulances to 65. The number of hearse vans also has been increased from nine to 19, and nine more are being readied, stated NMC press release.