Srinagar: In a letter written to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Junaid Azim has requested the shutdown of all tourist gardens, sites and monuments in Srinagar city.
Junaid Mattu in his letter stated that while the administration is taking every required step and is monitoring the evolving situation closely, I wanted to request for the following measures to be implemented in Srinagar city limits to help contain COVID optimally and effectively”.
Junaid Mattu in his letter requesting shutting down of all Tourist gardens, monuments and tourist sites and making a negative RT-PCR test report mandatory for anyone entering Srinagar by air or through the road routes.
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“Also shutting down our OPDs at Government and Private Hospitals to reduce the strain on our healthcare infrastructure, better isolate our frontline health workers and allow them a better and safer atmosphere in their valiant fight against COVID. All emergent cases can be treated at Emergency Wings and designated COVID centres at the hospitals”, the letter reads.
“Ceasing all elective, non-emergent procedures and surgeries at the hospitals till the situation improve and vaccination rates go up. Surgeries and procedures for emergent and terminal patients should be prioritized”, the letter reads.
“Disallow all congregational prayers and religious gatherings at places of worship in Srinagar and seeking community consensus and involvement in mounting this challenge together. 50% attendance roster on a rotational basis at all essential services Government and Public Offices. 33% attendance roster on a rotational basis at all non-essential-services Government and Public Offices should be applied”, it added.
Mayor SMC demanded a 33% attendance roster on a rotational basis for teachers of Government and private schools (those that continue to seek presence of teachers for administrative and curriculum dissemination purposes).
“Allow 33% rotational regulation for vendor-markets and flea-markets in Srinagar – regulating crowds that throng these markets. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) had initiated regulation of these markets during the first wave of COVID and I’m of the firm opinion the same needs to be replicated now without any delay”, the letter reads.
The SMC Mayor also demanded the constitution of a multi-agency field task-force to enforce COVID guidelines (Mask-usage, physical-distancing and restrictions in outdoor and indoor gatherings) as issued by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) with a strong law-enforcement liaison.
Deployment of Reserve Battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Police to enforce adherence to COVID guidelines should be considered for this initiative. Comprehensive, multi-media and multi-pronged community awareness campaign with door-to-door initiatives to ensure the maximum possible success of the COVID vaccination drive.
“I reaffirm my full support and that of all my fellow Corporators across partisan lines to the Administration’s efforts to fight an unprecedented challenge in battling COVID and minimizing its spread in Srinagar and the Union Territory at large”, the letter reads.
