Sanitisation Protocols to be initiated across the city

Srinagar 27 April(KNS): Mayor Srinagar Junaid Azim Mattu chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review SMC’s COVID preventive initiatives and measures being adopted across the city to stem the rise of COVID cases in Srinagar. 

The meeting was attended by Commissioner SMC Athar Aamir Khan (IAS), Joint Commissioner (Administration) SMC, Riyaz Ahmed Shah (KAS), Financial Advisor SMC, Rafiq Ahmed Shah (KAS), Health Officer SMC Dr Javaid Ahmed, Deputy Director Planning, Khurshid Ahmed Makhdoomi, Tehsildar South Srinagar Rabiya Yousuf, Executive Engineer Mechanical, Itrat Naseem, Chief Sanitation Officer SMC Mr. Nazir Ahmed Baba and other senior officials. 

Mayor Srinagar passed instructions for appropriate sanitisation protocols to be adopted across the city, especially at public hotspots, marketplaces, mosques and within micro-containment zones notified by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for Srinagar District. 

“Appropriate sanitisation protocols should be adopted to augment efforts to stem the spread of COVID in Srinagar. Special focus should be maintained at vulnerable potential hotspots and public places as well as micro-containment zones notified in Srinagar. Public Offices and institutions that witness a large number of public delegations should also be prioritised for strict enforcement of COVID norms and daily sanitisation protocols”, the Mayor said. 

The Mayor also asked Commissioner SMC and Joint Commissioner SMC to prepare a list of SMC Community Centres across the four zones of the city that can be converted into COVID-care centres with oxygen-supported beds. In this context, the Mayor asked SMC’s Financial Advisor to draw up a contingency plan as per financial guidelines and norms in vogue to propose a time-bound model to ensure timely creation of such COVID centres with oxygen-supported beds.

“While the District Administration has already identified nearly 1,300 beds collectively at interim designated COVID centres in Srinagar, we should try to augment this by creating a second-line of reserve COVID centres at our Community Centers in Srinagar. This would be a vital step in ensuring we are prepared for every eventuality if the need arises”, the Mayor added. 

Mayor Srinagar also sought the strict enforcement of COVID guidelines in Srinagar especially the restriction of gatherings beyond permitted numbers as well as the usage of face-masks. 

“Fines should be imposed against shops, stores, bank branches and other institution and commercial entities which are found in violation of COVID guidelines. Such entities should be sealed and prosecuted for nuisance and negligence as per relevant statutes of law. The SMC should work in close coordination with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) towards this direction”, the Mayor further added. 

The SMC Mayor also asked for community representatives, opinion-makers, religious scholars and trade body representatives to be invited and involved in building a community consensus for COVID guidelines to be self-enforced to aid the administration’s ongoing efforts to fight COVID in Srinagar. 

“I will be reaching out to Community representatives, opinion-makers, religious scholars and trade body representatives and will seek their active support in ensuring we all work together to prevent a widespread contagion in Srinagar”, the Mayor added.(KNS)