Mumbai: BMC boss fires warning shot for all hall owners

A health worker fines mask-less people in Borivli. Pic/Nimesh Dave

As it scrambles to contain the resurgence of coronavirus in the city, the BMC on Monday said it will take action against the owners and management of hotels, restaurants, and marriage halls if anyone is found without a mask on their premises. The decision to widen the ambit of the safety norms came after civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal held a review meeting.

Commuters without masks on a CR local train on Monday. Pic/Atul Kamble

Chahal met top Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and experts from corporation-run hospitals to review availability of beds, facilities at isolation and quarantine setups, jumbo COVID centres, ward war rooms and the overall management of cases, including sealed buildings.

"The commissioner has instructed civic officials that everyone is required to wear the mask at weddings, gymkhanas, clubs, nightclubs, restaurants, movie theatres, religious places, playgrounds, parks, shopping malls and other public places and private offices," said a BMC official who did not wish to be named.

The civic body already capped the maximum number of people at weddings, religious and family functions to a maximum of 50.

"Cinema halls, theatres, restaurants and private offices will allow 50 per cent of their total capacity. If it is found that these limits have been violated and masks are not found to be used in such places, then the persons concerned will be fined and even the establishment or the management will be prosecuted," the official said.

Driver of a concrete mixer vehicle pays fine to a health worker for violation of COVID-19 safety rules, at Borivli West on Monday. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Asking his team to be ready for micro-level planning if infections continue to rise, Chahal said it is mandatory to leave quarantine marks on the hands of home-isolated, asymptomatic patients. If such patients are found roaming in public places or outside their home, an FIR would be lodged against them, added the official.

The BMC chief has asked for involvement of office bearers of housing societies in COVID-19 management efforts. The aim is to make isolation of quarantine persons more effective and managing the daily needs of such individuals and their families, said officials.

Sources said Chahal wants personnel at ‘ward war rooms' to call asymptomatic patients four times a day to ensure they are at home.

Meanwhile, continuing its
crackdown, the civic body has begun filing cases against owners of gyms, restaurants, pubs and bars for non-compliance of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour on their remises.

Maskless pay up Rs 28L
The BMC collected over Rs 28.2 lakh from 14,100 people roaming without a mask on Monday. It had netted 16,000 people on February 20. So far, the BMC has penalised over 1.6 lakh citizens and made them cough up R32.4 crore collectively.

14,100
No. of people fined for not wearing a mask on Monday