Community action group to help unlock Mominpura

Nagpur: To prevent any law and order situation like last week, intellectuals, clerics and activists have formed an action group to mediate between Mominpura residents and the city administration. Owing to the blanket lockdown of Mominpura for more than two months, residents have become restless and started agitating against Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) decision to keep the entire area sealed.
On Monday, the action group met home minister Anil Deshmukh, divisional commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar, district collector Ravindra Thakre and commissioner of police BK Upadhyay, urging them to further divide the area into smaller zones as per risk factor. They are likely to meet municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe too.
The group said many people in the area have run out of money to sustain themselves anymore while many others are unable to carry out their petty business despite being away from ‘hotspots’ within Mominpura.
Applauding the local administration and police’s role in containing Covid-19, the group members said a large number of patients have recovered and their contacts have returned after completing their quarantine period. “The Covid graph is declining in Mominpura. Yet, this part of city remains sealed,” they said.
The members included office bearers of masjids, Jamiat Ulema Hind members, AIMIM workers, doctors and power loom industry representative. Former state minister Anees Ahmed too met Deshmukh, Kumar and additional CP Nilesh Barne over the plight of Mominpura residents. “Areas like Ansar Nagar, Boriyapura and Guard Line have not seen any Covid-19 cases since past two months and these areas must be given relaxation,” he appealed to Deshmukh.
Ahmed also raised the issue of disrespect to Covid-19 victims during burials. On June 1, TOI had reported the allegations that NMC’s workers threw bodies into the graves, rather than laying them to rest in a dignified manner.
Dr Sarfaraz Ahmad, one of the group members, said the area has population of 1.2 lakh and around 210 patients were detected. “This is just 0.2% of all people. Also, even if positive patients are reported from the periphery, restrictions are enforced on entire Mominpura. People here have small business or working outside but unable to work. Many are dependent on power looms,” he said.
Ex-minister Ahmed said the state government in a GR dated May 24 has allowed power looms and handlooms in the textile towns of Ichalkaranji, Bhiwandi, Malegaon, Solapur, and Dhule to begin operations, including in red zones. “This had provided much relief to the people of these textile towns but same orders are not being followed for Mominpura and Kamptee,” he said.