High-rises make up more than half of new containment list in Kolkata

KOLKATA: More than 50% of the 25 containment zones identified by the state, where fresh lockdown measures will be implemented from Thursday evening, are high-rise complexes and standalone buildings. While the list features six residential complexes in Alipore, Bhowanipore and Kankurgachhi, there are multiple standalone buildings in pockets of Bhowanipore, Kasba, Phoolbagan and Behala. Residents of high-rises of these areas, and also across the city, on Wednesday geared up to put on fresh guards from Thursday.
“Barricades have been set up outside our building for the past few days and there is complete restriction of residents’ movement. Everyone is locked inside homes and we are allowed to go till the main entrance to collect daily essentials,” said Ashwini Sanganaria, a resident of Satyam Towers on Alipore Road, which has been notified as a containment zone.

The list features five other complexes — 5B, Judges Court Road (Alipore), 19A, Sarat Bose Road (Bhowanipore), P12, CIT scheme VII M (Kankurgachhi), 55A, Dr Sarat Banerjee Road (Bhowanipore) and 1, Belvedere Road (Alipore).
Residents of complexes which were struck off the containment zone list heaved a sigh of relief, but said they will continue to enforce some measures to ensure the infection remains in check on their premises. “Our apartment was under a containment zone earlier, but we are relieved that we do not feature on Wednesday’s list. Although our entrance is still barricaded, we hope they will be removed soon. But even after the barricades are removed, we will continue to follow the containment strictures and none of the residents will move out unless it is an emergency,” said Bharat Shah, a senior resident of Sindu Apartment on Sarat Bose Road in Bhowanipore. Shah added there are no active cases at their complex any more, although a total of nine persons in three families had been infected over three months.
Residents of complexes where there are multiple active Covid cases said they were aware that if they did not check the situation immediately, their apartments could come under containment zones in the next few days.
“At present, nine residents are suffering from the disease and an elevator technician has recently been admitted to a private hospital after testing positive. We were afraid our complex would become a containment zone again, but, thankfully, we do not feature on the list this time. However, we are maintaining all necessary sanitization and safety protocols and are trying to restrict the entry of outsiders as much as possible,” said Debjani Mukherjee of Urbana residential complex off EM Bypass.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, chairperson of KMC board of administrators Firhad Hakim said even though several high-rises and standalone buildings are being tagged as containment zones, residents — apart from those under quarantine — can go to markets. “But I appeal to everyone to not leave their homes as much as possible. In case they have to come out, they should wear masks and apply sanitizer. They should also sanitize the elevators at regular intervals,” Hakim said.
He also appealed to residents of the high-rises to extend support to healthcare workers when they visit their premises. “We are initiating a high-rise microplanning, which will require our officials to visit the complexes. We appeal to the residents for coordination with the officials and workers,” Hakim added.