Pune: If you are planning a short trip to Khadakwasla, Panshet dam or Sinhagad fort, then think twice before stepping out as police and local villagers have started taking action against 'tourists' who are violating the lockdown orders.
The Khadakwasla Gram Panchayat and Haveli police took action against 280 persons who had come to these areas on Saturday. The action was taken based on an order issued by the District Collector Naval Kishor Ram prohibiting the non-essential movement of citizens and vehicles at the local tourist places in Pune district. These orders have clearly stated that the Khadakwasla, Panshet and Varasgaon dam areas will be closed for tourists, but still many citizens from nearby areas like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad cities are crowding at these locations. The proximity of the villages to the cities attracts hundreds of tourists every weekend, but in the present situation, it is becoming a problem for villages as they are unable to contain the spread of coronavirus due to outside visitors.
Villages like Nanded, Kirkatwadi, Khadakwasla and Khanapur have been declared as containment zones by the district administration recently. The number of COVID-19 cases in these villages is rising rapidly in the past few days. Villagers have called for a lockdown of all non-essential activities in their villages. Local citizens are following all the norms and guidelines issued by the administration.
Haveli police station staff and gram panchayat office-bearers put up a checkpoint at the junction near Khadakwasla dam itself. Those residing in the nearby areas were allowed to proceed, but those who had come for a short trip to the villages were stopped, fined and asked to return. The action was taken against 280 persons on Saturday and Rs 28000 fine was collected from them.
Police Inspector Ashok Shelke of Haveli police station and Khadakwasla Village Head Saurabh Mate have appealed to citizens of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to stay at home. "We will be carrying out the checking of vehicles at the junction near Khadakwasla dam on Sunday too. If anybody is found violating the lockdown norms, strict action will be taken against them," Shelke said.
Edited by:
Khevna Pandit
