Kolkata: Security guards deployed on streets to ensure people wear masks, practice social distancing

KOLKATA: Though no lockdown containment zones have been put up in New Town, the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has deployed about 100 security guards in several groups to get divided across the township to see that people wear mask and to ensure that social distancing norms were being followed on the streets and at the markets.
Officials said that this will continue for at least the next seven days till coming Friday in an effort to put brakes on the increasing Covid-19 numbers in the township.
The authorities took stock of the present scenario in New Town in its Covid-19 war room meeting and it was decided that the police as well as NKDA and Hidco would put in their additional resources to see that the mask wearing and social distancing norms are strictly enforced on the streets and at the market places.
The security guards of Eco Park, of the parking lots and of other parks of NKDA were addressed on the issue by the authorities on Friday.
“They have been instructed to patrol the streets and to talk with people who were moving on the roads without wearing masks. They have been asked to talk to people politely but firmly to anybody not wearing a mask. They have also been given some masks to distribute to the poor if required,” said an official.
The groups will be keeping patrol on the streets on two shifts daily from 7am to 12 noon and again from 4pm to 9pm.
The authorities had earlier conducted drone surveillance in New Town and will again conduct drone surveillance to keep check on the street markets.
NKDA is also conducting awareness drive across New Town using loudspeakers mounted on Totos. Hoardings have also been put up in the gates of housing societies, urging people to follow the preventive measures like wearing masks, maintain social distance and wash hands frequently.