KOLKATA: There will be complete lockdown across the state on September 7, 11 and 12 and the existing pandemic rules, which were in force till August 31, will remain in effect till September 20, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced from Nabanna on Wednesday. She will hold a review meeting by September 20 and decide on extension of lockdown.
“There is a total lockdown on Thursday and another one on Monday. There are partial lockdowns on rest of the days. But given the present situation, it will not be right to immediately withdraw the lockdown. The decision has been taken based on the prevailing situation. There are a few places where cases are still increasing. These are not in Bengal but I have been appraised of this situation. Hence, lockdown will continue and status quo will be maintained regarding the existing rules,” said the chief minister. Banerjee indicated that ideally she would have liked a 48-hour lockdown on September 3 and 4 but decided against it as some major national entrance exams have been slated around the same time.
Police, meanwhile, have made preparations for examinees appearing in the Banaras Hindu University entrance exams on Thursday. The online exam, slated to be held at Gitabitan in New Town, will see convergence of several candidates. “The candidates can write ‘on exam duty’ on the windshield of the car. Their admit cards will act as their passes,” said a senior police officer. Management aspirants, too, must follow the same procedure to reach exam centres, said a Kolkata Police officer.
Kolkata Police has also tweeted that only candidates will be allowed to travel with proper documents on the next total lockdown day. “It will be on a case-to-case basis. The admit cards have to be produced and the candidates must carry supporting necessary documents,” said joint CP (traffic) Santosh Pandey.
But with no public transport and not many willing to drive them to exam centres, the candidates want the cops to help them in reaching their exam centres. “Yes, we have received certain appeals from young citizens. If required, the candidates can call up the Lalbazar control room. We will guide them as much as possible,” said an IPS officer, adding that too many people accompanying candidates runs the risk of prosecution.
Kolkata Police has readied a few Karma ambulances and Shakti vehicles that will be placed strategically to help those trying to reach hospitals. The move came after reports that several non-Covid patients were missing their regular appointments — including dialysis — on lockdown days. The cops said that people in real need should inform the Lalbazar control room. If the cops are convinced, help would be provided,” stated the officer.
To enforce total lockdown, the cops have come up with two separate teams — one for the day and another for the night. It has been decided to deploy close to 30-45 personnel in each police station area during the peak morning hours. They will be supplemented by traffic police, who will run naka checks at 28 different points. Another 20-25 odd personnel will be deployed by each police station in the evening. The total deployment, though, is not being changed and around 8,000 personnel will be deployed yet again.
(With inputs from Tamaghna Banerjee)
“There is a total lockdown on Thursday and another one on Monday. There are partial lockdowns on rest of the days. But given the present situation, it will not be right to immediately withdraw the lockdown. The decision has been taken based on the prevailing situation. There are a few places where cases are still increasing. These are not in Bengal but I have been appraised of this situation. Hence, lockdown will continue and status quo will be maintained regarding the existing rules,” said the chief minister. Banerjee indicated that ideally she would have liked a 48-hour lockdown on September 3 and 4 but decided against it as some major national entrance exams have been slated around the same time.
Police, meanwhile, have made preparations for examinees appearing in the Banaras Hindu University entrance exams on Thursday. The online exam, slated to be held at Gitabitan in New Town, will see convergence of several candidates. “The candidates can write ‘on exam duty’ on the windshield of the car. Their admit cards will act as their passes,” said a senior police officer. Management aspirants, too, must follow the same procedure to reach exam centres, said a Kolkata Police officer.
Kolkata Police has also tweeted that only candidates will be allowed to travel with proper documents on the next total lockdown day. “It will be on a case-to-case basis. The admit cards have to be produced and the candidates must carry supporting necessary documents,” said joint CP (traffic) Santosh Pandey.
But with no public transport and not many willing to drive them to exam centres, the candidates want the cops to help them in reaching their exam centres. “Yes, we have received certain appeals from young citizens. If required, the candidates can call up the Lalbazar control room. We will guide them as much as possible,” said an IPS officer, adding that too many people accompanying candidates runs the risk of prosecution.
Kolkata Police has readied a few Karma ambulances and Shakti vehicles that will be placed strategically to help those trying to reach hospitals. The move came after reports that several non-Covid patients were missing their regular appointments — including dialysis — on lockdown days. The cops said that people in real need should inform the Lalbazar control room. If the cops are convinced, help would be provided,” stated the officer.
To enforce total lockdown, the cops have come up with two separate teams — one for the day and another for the night. It has been decided to deploy close to 30-45 personnel in each police station area during the peak morning hours. They will be supplemented by traffic police, who will run naka checks at 28 different points. Another 20-25 odd personnel will be deployed by each police station in the evening. The total deployment, though, is not being changed and around 8,000 personnel will be deployed yet again.
(With inputs from Tamaghna Banerjee)
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