KOLKATA: A day after a successful lockdown, imposed to break the Covid-spread chain, morning walkers at Rabindra Sarobar were in for a rude shock. Used PPE dumped on the road side near the complex and more than 50 unmasked people playing football or washing themselves in the water body without following social distancing norms greeted morning walkers on Sunday, triggering panic.
They alerted the security guards and shot a letter to Antara Acharya, CEO, KMDA, expressing their anguish. KMDA, keepers of the Lake, had opened the complex from July 1, for three hours from 5.30am every day, after chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced the relaxation for morning walkers. However, it was closed on the two lockdown days this week.
“We had to walk past the pavement where the used PPE was dumped, somewhere between Bengal Rowing Club and Lake Club,” said Probir Kumar Das, former director of NIT and a morning walker.
Environmentalist S M Ghosh said, “KMDA recently stopped single-scull rowing inside Rabindra Sarobar citing the need to arrest the spread of the virus. And this morning, right after the lockdown, we found people playing football, crowding the place and washing themselves in the lake, without wearing masks or following social distancing norms. And then we found used PPE on the pavement.”
Arun Agarwal, who has been taking walks in the morning for four decades, said, “I am diabetic and 70 years old. I was so happy when the Lake reopened for us for three hours. But after today, I don’t think I can come here for morning walks. The football match started at 6am and continued till 8am. We couldn’t do our walking or exercises because these people were all over the place, sitting and strolling on the tracks used for jogging and walking. Nobody was wearing a mask.”
Another morning walker, retired teacher Saroma Mukherjee, complained to the security guards against the football players. “It was of no use. The guards just stood and watched the violations. I am not sure I will come for morning walks from tomorrow. It’s too dangerous when Covid is rapidly spreading and the authorities are unable to take steps to implement safety protocol. KMDA must consider these as grave issues and identify the culprits without delay,” she said.
A KMDA official looking after Rabindra Sarobar said, “The PPE could have been used by frontline workers in a local clinic. KMC is supposed to ensure that PPE kits are not dumped in the open. But we are trying to make sure that football is not played on the premises.”
They alerted the security guards and shot a letter to Antara Acharya, CEO, KMDA, expressing their anguish. KMDA, keepers of the Lake, had opened the complex from July 1, for three hours from 5.30am every day, after chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced the relaxation for morning walkers. However, it was closed on the two lockdown days this week.
TimesView
Indiscriminate disposal of PPE is an example of irresponsibility that puts the entire community at risk. Cops and civic agencies should penalise people for this just as lockdown and mask violations now attract action.
“We had to walk past the pavement where the used PPE was dumped, somewhere between Bengal Rowing Club and Lake Club,” said Probir Kumar Das, former director of NIT and a morning walker.
Environmentalist S M Ghosh said, “KMDA recently stopped single-scull rowing inside Rabindra Sarobar citing the need to arrest the spread of the virus. And this morning, right after the lockdown, we found people playing football, crowding the place and washing themselves in the lake, without wearing masks or following social distancing norms. And then we found used PPE on the pavement.”
Arun Agarwal, who has been taking walks in the morning for four decades, said, “I am diabetic and 70 years old. I was so happy when the Lake reopened for us for three hours. But after today, I don’t think I can come here for morning walks. The football match started at 6am and continued till 8am. We couldn’t do our walking or exercises because these people were all over the place, sitting and strolling on the tracks used for jogging and walking. Nobody was wearing a mask.”
Another morning walker, retired teacher Saroma Mukherjee, complained to the security guards against the football players. “It was of no use. The guards just stood and watched the violations. I am not sure I will come for morning walks from tomorrow. It’s too dangerous when Covid is rapidly spreading and the authorities are unable to take steps to implement safety protocol. KMDA must consider these as grave issues and identify the culprits without delay,” she said.
A KMDA official looking after Rabindra Sarobar said, “The PPE could have been used by frontline workers in a local clinic. KMC is supposed to ensure that PPE kits are not dumped in the open. But we are trying to make sure that football is not played on the premises.”
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app