No entry to picnic spots in Lonavla after 6pm today

PUNE: To ensure a safe New Year's Eve, the Pune rural police have barred entry to picnic spots in Lonavla after 6pm on December 31. Special teams have also been deployed to keep a watch on drunk drivers and mischief mongers.
The Lonavla Municipal Council has appealed to incoming tourists and revellers to wear masks and maintain hygiene in view of a marginal rise in Covid cases in parts of the state.
The council's chief executive officer, Pandi Patil, also urged people to avoid crowded areas. "Local traders should also wear masks and should tell their customers to use sanitizer frequently," Patil said.
The twin hill stations of Lonavla and Khandala are popular destinations for revellers, especially during New Year's Eve.
The rural police will carry nakabandi at Raywookd Corner Chowk, Octroi Post and Kumar Hotel Chowk in Lonavla and at Malavali and Karla Phata in Lonavla rural area. "We will check suspected drivers with breathalysers and will take stringent action against drunk drivers," an officer said.
Deputy superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Satya Sai Karthik told TOI that the police had recently conducted a meeting of bungalow owners and resort owners in and around Lonavla. "We have warned them to take precautions so that no law and order issue will occur during the weekend," Karthik said.
On the backdrop of recent accidents in swimming pools in Lonavla, the police have also warned bungalow owners and caretakers to take extra precautions. They have also been told to take proper permissions to use loud speakers and to follow the prescribed time limits.
"We have also directed them to obtain permission from the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and maintain a register of their guests with their details and identity proofs," Karthik said.
Karthik added that he received a tip about a matka den at Vehergaon in Maval taluka. "We raided the spot on Thursday evening and detained eight persons. We have seized cash and other materials, collectively worth Rs 17.5 lakh, from these men," Karthik said.