Teams to keep eye on those flouting norms

With Covid cases rising in Navi Mumbai, civic chief forms squads to pull up those flouting rules; doubling rate at 248 days

NAVI MUMBAI: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) chief, Abhijit Bangar, has formed 31 special vigilance teams of 155 people to keep a watch on those who violate the Covid norms.

The vigilance teams will have civic and police officials in each ward. Besides, action is being taken by the police independently as well. The team will consist of five persons in each squad and two squads will operate in each ward, one during the day and another at night.

Bangar said, “For the first time since October 16, the cases crossed 300 in the last three days.

The number of Covid cases has increased rapidly from 136 to 225, and to 318. It is imperative that all the Covid norms be strictly followed by the citizens.

However, it is seen that the norms are largely being violated. Henceforth, we will be penalising them.”

For the APMC market area, additional five teams of five persons in three shifts will keep a watch on the citizens who do not follow the rules.

“With the start of vaccination, there is a false sense of confidence in people and they have stopped fearing the virus. People have masks but it is kept for the chin and pulled up only when an NMMC staff is seen. Malls and banquet halls can also be sealed if found not following the norms. In case it is sealed, it will remain so till the pandemic exists,” Bangar said.

NMMC, in the last 17 days, have seen a surge by 701 cases. The highest surge was recorded on Wednesday with 318 positive cases. The active cases, which were 1,314 on March 1, went to 2015 on March 17. Nerul ward had a surge of 150 cases in 17 days, while 143 in Belapur ward and 125 in Airoli ward.

The doubling rate of 353 days on March 1 has now come down to 248 days.

Crowd at a vegetable market in Navi Mumbai.