Pune: Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Patil has instructed his officials to arrest any marriage hall or other facility owners who are found to be allowing violation of norms laid down by the local administration to curb the infection spread of COVID-19.

“COVID-19 cases are on the rise and still citizens, facility managers and owners are brazenly flouting norms laid down by the administration during the coronavirus outbreak. Such violators should be arrested during the ceremony itself,” SP Patil has said.

A review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Labour Minister Dilip Walse Patil at the Government Rest House on Wednesday afternoon. MLA Atul Benke, Collector Rajesh Deshmukh, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ayush Prasad, District Health Officer Bhagwan Pawar, Sub-Divisional Officer Sarang Kodalkar, Tehsildar Hanumant Kolekar and government officials attended the meeting.

MLA Benke said seven hundred beds have been set up at the treatment centre at Lenyadri and Ozar. Narayangaon Rural Hospital has 20 beds with a facility of oxygen supply. The number of Covid-19 patients is increasing in Junnar tehsil and hence increased capacity of oxygenated beds and trained staff is need for the hour. Antigen test kits are needed for Covid-19 testing. Labour Minister Dilip Walse Patil said, “Covid-19 cases are on the rise in these areas as more people are coming in contact with citizens in urban areas like Pune and Mumbai cities due to the market committee functioning.”

Walse Patil also ordered to immediately provide one thousand antigen test kits for conducting Covid-19 tests and to provide thirty oxygen beds in the sub-centre at Shiroli village. He appealed to citizens to cooperate with the officials by following all norms laid down by administration and abide by the rules and regulations of state government while conducting religious and marriage ceremonies, Dashakriya Vidhi, Ganeshotsav and Moharram as the number of Covid-19 cases is on the rise.