SOCIAL DISTANCING GOES FOR A TOSS AT MBMC HQ

The gover nment has been issuing advisories urging all states to implement social distancing measures as a preventive strategy to contain the spread of coronavirus. But, this preventive prescription for Covid19, has apparently taken a back-seat for the over-ambitious political of fice bearers in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) who continue to draw a swar m of visitors and followers during their cosmetic visits to the main administrative building of the civic body in Bhayandar.

Consequently, all nor ms to maintain personal distancing are being thrown to the winds. In an attempt to prevent crowding and ensure protection of staf fers from the deadly virus, the civic administration had taken a precautionary step by issuing directives to restrict entry of citizens and visitors at its head of fice in Bhayandar since 15, May. However, the scenario at the common waiting bay outside the mayor and deputy mayor’s cabin on Thursday, clearly exposed that the deputy commissioner’s order had only remained on paper, as visitors and followers of local politicians continue to throng the civic headquarter in stark defiance of the social distancing guidelines. This despite an alar ming rise in the number of cases in the twincity. However, the ruling gover nance maintained that those who assembled were members of local NGO's who were to be felicitated for their outstanding social work during the ongoing corona crisis.

While it was clarified that staffers will continue to work as per scheduled timings, the civic administration has been encouraging citizens to e-mail their complaints and suggestions instead of visiting the offices till further notice. According to health department officials, the total number of positive Covid-19 patients in the twin-city had reached 390 till Wednesday.