Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 6
To avoid overcrowding, the UT Administration has decided to open Sukhna Lake the whole day on Sundays. The decision was taken at a review meeting on the Covid-19 pandemic, chaired by UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore.
According to an order issued by UT Adviser Dharam Pal, the restrictions on opening of Sukhna Lake for only four hours in the morning and two hours in the evening on Sundays had been withdrawn to avoid overcrowding.
Expressing serious concern over the rush at Sukhna Lake, the Administrator directed the police to ensure strict enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviour at the lake. Badnore said closure of Sukhna Lake would be considered during evenings on weekends if visitors did not adhere to the Covid protocol and overcrowding was observed even after opening the lake the whole day.
The Health Department has started a special vaccination camp at the lake. Twently persons got the jab at the camp today.
In view of a sharp decline in Covid cases, it was decided to increase the number of guests allowed for special gatherings such as weddings to 100 or 50 per cent of the capacity of the banquet hall, whichever is less. It will be mandatory for all adult guests and staff of the hotel or banquet hall to have received at least one dose of the vaccine or to have a negative RTPCR report of the past 72 hours.
Keeping in view national and international events, the Administration has decided to open select swimming pools of the Sports Department for swimmers/players on the condition that all eligible players have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine and are tested after every fortnight.
In another decision, the UT Administration has clubbed liquor vends in the category of restaurants, bars and eateries and allowed these to open from 10 am to 10.30 pm. During the meeting, Dr Jagat Ram, Director, PGI, said a 2,000 litre per minute oxygen plant would become functional at the institute tomorrow.
Liquor vends to open from 10 am to 10.30 pm