To ensure people in containment zones continue getting their essentials, cops have set up a separate control room. The facility has been made available for just two areas — Malipanchghara and Golabari — for now. The move comes on the heels of the state government initiating micro-planning measures in 11 new localities within Howrah.
Anyone from the two areas can call the control room and place orders, which will then be relayed on to workers provided by a food-delivery aggregator that the police has tied up with. Cops said the orders were being delivered within two hours.
The 12 containment zones areas are spread across Tikiapara, Malipanchghara, Bandhaghat, Bamungachhi, Salkia, Kazipara, Pilkhana crossing, Golabari, Kadamtala and Belgachhia. More areas are likely to be added to this list.
DC headquarters Priyabrata Ray said, “We have barricaded the containment zones to prevent people from moving in and out of these areas.” Cops have identified Harganj Market to be the place from where maximum infections have spread in Howrah.To keep people off this market, the police have started a separate control room to home deliver both greens and essentials.
“We have been able to run the delivery operation smoothly,” said Pravin Prakash, deputy commissioner (North)
A large number of volunteers from Howrah Municipal Corporation and local clubs are also helping the control room. Nearly 11,000 households have been serviced over the past few days.
“The system is working so well that we will replicate it in Shibpur and Howrah thana areas too,” said Howrah Police commissioner Kunal Agarwal.
Following stricter vigil, medicine supply in parts of the district has been affected. Some of the shop owners alleged that their staffers were unable to come as they were being barred from crossing the containment zones. “We have asked shops across the state to put extra effort to ensure enough stock of medicines. We have also urged the government and district administration to help our staff,” said Sajal Ganguly, secretary of Bengal Chemists and Druggists’ Association.
Source: Times of India
