PUNE: The recent increase in coronavirus cases in PMR has poured water on this year’s Holi celebrations at public places.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), along with the district administration, on Wednesday issued orders banning public celebrations of Holi and Rang Panchami.
Officials stated that the decision was taken to curb any further spread of the coronavirus cases across the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR).
“The directives were issued in accordance with relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897,” PMC commissioner Vikram Kumar said.
The order stated that public gatherings should be avoided due to pandemic. Celebrations of Holi on March 28 and Rang Panchami on March 29 should not be carried out at hotels, resorts, community halls, roads, grounds, gardens and schools.
“People should also avoid celebration even at the personal level as part of the state government’s ‘Me Jababdar’ drive,” the PMC order stated.
The PCMC’s order was on the same lines of the PMC and the district administration’s directives. The ban will be effective in all areas under the PCMC’s jurisdiction.
“Zonal, enforcement and flying squads will a keep tab on the Covid-19 guidelines and its violation,” PCMC commissioner Rajesh Patil said.
As per the orders, 24 squads will operate across the PCMC areas. “There will be eight flying squads, eight enforcement squads and eight ward officers’ squads,” stated the order that became effective from Wednesday and would be in place till the next directive.
The order stated that the squads would also monitor the violations pertaining to Covid-19 norms. Not wearing mask, spitting on the road, violations of the social distancing norms and organising programmes without permissions would be sternly dealt with.
According to the order issued by the PCMC, staffers of the civic body will carry out the action in association with the police personnel.