Magistrates deputed, on the spot Covid-19 test for violators
Jamshedpur, Jan 1: Going for picnic revelry in hotspots be cautious to abide by Covid-19 protocols.
The East Singhbhum district administration has deputed magistrates with police teams at all the 10 major picnic spots in and around Jamshedpur.
“We have deputed magistrates at all known picnic spots which witness huge turnout. The magistrates will be tagged with police team and anybody violating Covid-19 protocols at the picnic spots will be charged with cases under Epidemic Diseases Act,” said Dhalbhum sub divisional officer (SDO) Nitesh Kumar Singh.
The senior administrative officer further said that apart from abiding with protocols laid out by the state disaster management department they will be undertaking random Covid-19 testing through Rapid Antigen Test.
“We will also be conducting random Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19. Those found violating Covid-19 protocols like not wearing masks or not maintaining social distances will be put for test either at the picnic spot or taken to designated camps for tests. They would be released on PR bonds only after their negative test report,” the SDO added.
Incidentally, state chief secretary Sukhdev Singh has directed all the 24 deputy commissioners on Wednesday to ensure compliance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid out for Covid-19 at the picnic spots.
“The chief secretary has asked all the deputy commissioners to ensure compliance of the SOPs laid out in the directive sent earlier this month at the popular picnic spots. They would have to take steps to ensure social distancing, masks and also see that people use hand sanitizers at those spots. This apart there should be no consumption of tobacco products at the spot. The deputy commissioners would also have to ensure proper Covid-19 testing wherever they feel necessary,”’ said principal secretary health, Nitin Madan Kulkarni.
Even the state tourism department has pulled up its socks to ensure that Covid-19 protocols are followed at the spots maintained by them.
State tourism deputy director Vidyanand Sharma Pankaj, said that all the over 1600 paryatak mitras (appointed by tourism department on contractual basis for maintenance of tourist spots) have been issued necessary directive.
“They will be in constant touch with the respective local thanas and if any individual or groups does not follow Covid protocols like social distance or marks and consumes liquor or smokes then they will first try to persuade them and if they do not relent then they will inform the local thana for necessary actions,” said Vidyanand Sharma.
The paryatak mitras who mainly monitor major waterfalls at tourist spots have also been asked to ensure that visitors do not go near the danger spots near the waterfalls.
Significantly, tourists in large numbers from neighbouring states of Bengal and Odisha and even from Chattisgarh flock to tourist spots of Jharkhand for picnics between December end and February.
Some of the major tourist and picnic spots in and around the city include Dimna Lake, Narwa Dam, Galudih, Patharbhanga (along Sundernagar-Narwa Road)and Hudco Lake.
With Jubilee Park being closed due to Covid-19 pandemic most of the crowd would flock to picnic spots on the fringe of the city.