Lucknow: Work halts on isolation centre after protest

TNN | Apr 30, 2020, 08:17 IST

Vikasnagar residents opposed the decision to set up a quarantine centre in a residential area after which work was put on hold

Vikasnagar residents opposed the decision to set up a quarantine centre in a residential area after which work...Read More

LUCKNOW: The work to convert the campus of a private school in Vikasnagar into a quarantine centre for suspected Covid-19 cases was put on hold on Wednesday after locals in the area protested against the district administration’s move.
Residents of Vikasnagar sector 1 in the morning noticed some officials of the district administration standing outside the school and giving directions to convert it into a quarantine centre. They immediately informed their neighbours. As news spread, people came out and protested. They also called police which then spoke to the residents and stopped the work.
“We went to all the houses to avoid social gathering to know about the concern of the people. Most of them said that there were elderly residents in almost all houses and opening of a quarantine centre might expose them to Covid-19. All of them said that such a centre should be away from a residential area. We have informed higher authorities so that they can take appropriate decision,” said Vikasnagar SHO Dheeraj Shukla.
At present, there are 13 quarantine facilities in the city with a capacity of 16,000. Around 450 people have been quarantined in these facilities. Additional district magistrate Amarpal Singh, who is also the nodal officer of quarantine centres, said, “Taking note of the concerns of the residents, it was decided to put this centre on the waiting list and not send anybody here for now.”