Shimla, Apr 7
As the polls in the newly constituted Municipal Corporations, nagar panchayats and panchayat polls in three developmental blocks are about to end the state Government has decided to enforce limitation on the public gathering in various events on Wednesday.
A press statement issued by the state today stated that keeping in view the spike in Covid-19 cases, the state has decided to enforce directives for limited gathering.
State Executive Committee for management of Covid-19 under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary has issued orders to limit the number of persons in social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political gatherings and other congregations.
” The orders have been implemented with immediate effect and would remain in force till further orders.” statement said.
As per the new orders, the number of persons in open spaces/grounds in areas outside containment zones, keeping the size of the ground or space would be 50 per cent of the capacity subject to maximum of 200 persons. In closed spaces in areas outside the containment zone, the number of persons allowed would be 50 per cent of the hall capacity subject to a maximum of 50 persons.
Strict observance of social distancing, wearing of face cover or mask, provision of thermal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer would be mandatory in all such venues. The organizers would be responsible to ensure compliance of these conditions and other SOPs issued by the government. The respective DM & SPs would take adequate measures to implement these orders with the support of all the PRIs and ULBs.
State Election commission did not bother to enforce such restrictions during the election campaign for four MCs, seven Nagar Panchayats and number of Gram panchayats in three development blocks of Shimla and Mandi district, alleged Kuldeep Rathore, State Congress chief. It seemed that Covid pandemic did not spread in the political functions and it is being spread by the ordinary people, he said while interacting with media persons on Tuesday.
When the Chief Minister of state does not bother in attending crowded public gatherings during the second wave during election campaigns why should opposition be questioned for following the Covid norms, Rathore added.
It is worthwhile to mention that tourists, political leaders and activists could be seen openly flouting these norms in spite of the sudden surge in the Covid-19. A local resident of Shimla Narender Sharma said that if you visit the mall road in Shimla every third tourist could be seen without a mask or not wearing it properly.
Local residents said that the state Government has increased the vigil in the rural areas, rather than checking congested or tourist resorts.
