Take strict actions to regulate crowded places: Union Home Secretary

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the large crowds in several places across India, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday dashed a letter to States and UTs to regulate the crowded places and take necessary measures for the management of Covid-19.

New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the large scale gathering in several places across India, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday dashed a letter to States and UTs to regulate the crowded places and take necessary measures for the management of Covid-19. In a separate letter written to chief secretaries and administrators of States and UTs, Bhalla said that the officer concerned should be made personally responsible for any laxity in strict enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour.

"I urge you to issue strict directions to the district and all other local authorities concerned, to regulate the crowded places. I would also advise that orders issued by the respective state governments and UT administrators as well as district authorities in this regard, should be widely disseminated to the public and to the field functionaries," said Bhalla in his letter.

In his letter, Bhalla pointed out that blatant violations of Covid norms have been observed in several parts of the country, especially in public transport and at hill stations. "Massive crowds are also throwing the market places, violating norms of social distancing. Consequently, an increase in the R factor (reproduction number) in some of the states, is a matter of concern. You may be aware that any increase in R factor above 1.0 is an indicator of the spread of Covid-19," he said.

Bhalla suggested that the authorities concerned shall be made responsible for ensuring Covid appropriate behaviour in all crowded places such as shops, malls, markets complex, weekly markets, public parks, gymnasium, marriage halls as well as at all areas identified as hotspots for transmission of Covid-19 virus. "It needs to be ensured that if the norms of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour are not maintained at any establishments, premises, markets etc, such places shall be liable for the reimposition of restrictions, for containing the spread of Covid-19 and the defaulters shall also be liable for action under the relevant laws," Bhalla said.

Prime Minister Modi during his interactions with the Chief Ministers of the Northeastern States and representatives of hill stations have expressed serious concern over the fact that people are gathering in large numbers violating Covid appropriate behaviour in those places. During his interactions with the Chief Ministers, Modi said that there is no time to soften our guards against the pandemic. "The pandemic is not yet over. We still need to follow all Covid appropriate behaviour as well as social distancing," said Modi. The letter written by Home Secretary Bhalla is a follow-up of PM Modi's meeting with the state governments.