Adopt Mumbai Model to contain virus: HC
Bench orders BMC chief to conduct video conference with municipal commissioners of other districts
A day after the Supreme Court justice praised the efficacy of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in handling COVID19 cases, the Bombay High Court bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni appreciated its ‘Mumbai Model’ and advised the municipal commissioners of other districts in the state to use it.
The judges have also ordered the Maharashtra government to consider imposing a total lockdown in Pune city given the ‘alarming’ cases there. The bench has ordered BMC Chief Iqbal Chahal to conduct a video conference with the municipal commissioners of other districts and guide them on how to manage patients and control the pandemic.
The judges, after perusing a district-wise chart of COVID-19 cases, noted that Pune has double the cases than Mumbai. It noted that Pune has around 1.14 lakh cases, while Mumbai has around 86,000 cases.
The bench suggested advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to advise the Maharashtra government to impose a strict lockdown in districts with higher cases. "From the data, it appears that cities like Pune and Nashik, amongst others, have higher cases. Especially in Pune, the cases are double than that of Mumbai," Justice Kulkarni pointed out.
At this, advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni explained that patients from other districts migrate to Pune for better facilities. Thus, the numbers have been higher since the second wave.
"The situation in Pune is alarming. It has double the cases than Mumbai. Can the civic chief of Pune be connected to the Mumbai commissioner and take his guidance?" CJ Datta said. "If the cases can be controlled in Mumbai, Pune too can follow its model. In fact, not only Pune. Thane and Nashik too can follow the Mumbai Model," the chief justice added.
The bench further noted, as on date, there are over 12,000 vacant beds in Mumbai across COVID-19 centers and dedicated COVID-19 hospitals. It suggested that patients from nearby municipal corporations, like Thane, Vasai-Virar and Mira-Bhayander, can be given these beds and other facilities.
"In fact, let Chahal conduct a video conference with other civic corporations. Let him tell them whatever is available in Mumbai and how patients can be managed. Also, he can guide others and tell them what model he has followed and how they can use it in their corporations," CJ Datta ordered.
The chief justice, however, clarified that he wasn't ‘disrespecting’ the commissioners of other civic bodies. "We have no doubt that all are responsible IAS officers. Just that it is a matter of death and life of patients. When one officer has worked better, why can't his model be replicated in all districts and followed by other officers," the chief justice clarified.
Impose lockdown in Pune
During the hearing, the bench suggested AG Kumbhakoni to impose a lockdown in Pune. "When this is the situation in Pune, why don't you advise your government to impose a total lockdown there? We don't want lockdown-like restrictions. We are speaking of a proper total lockdown like last year," the chief justice ordered.