Pune: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has warned district and civic officials to implement lockdown restrictions strictly in the city. "If COVID-19 can be brought under control in Mumbai then what is the problem in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad cities. Enforce strict lockdown and take action against those who are not wearing masks. I will tell you this only once... don't force me to take bitter decisions," Ajit Pawar told senior officers in a review meeting on COVID-19 situation in the city.
Pawar said, "We are receiving many complaints against doctors who are refusing to enter the COVID-wards in hospitals. Officials should take action against such doctors. Also, citizens from the city area are travelling to rural areas of the district. This is a major cause of the spread of coronavirus infection in the rural areas. Officials should make a plan with the help of various committees in rural areas to control and prevent the coronavirus spread in rural areas."
"Giving relaxations in lockdown does not mean that the administration's responsibility is over. People are roaming around without wearing masks, attending marriage functions in large numbers and not following social distancing norms. Why are the police and municipality officers not taking action against violators," Pawar questioned.
Pawar was addressing senior officials at the Divisional Commissioner office on Friday afternoon. Chief Minister's Principal Advisor Ajoy Mehta, Public Health Department's Principal Secretary Dr Pradeepkumar Vyas, Food and Drugs Administration Secretary Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Divisional Commissioner (Pune) Dr Deepak Mhaisekar, District Collector Naval Kishor Ram, Pune Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, Police Commissioner Dr K Venkatesham, Sugar Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Zilla Parishad CEO Ayush Prasad and others were present for the meeting.
Ajoy Mehta said, "A testing in-charge officer should be appointed for coordination between Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and District Administration. This officer would ensure that tests for COVID-19 are being conducted on suspected patients in time."
"It is necessary to prevent the spread of coronavirus in rural areas. Officials should take help of community leaders to bring this epidemic under control," Mehta said.
