Srinagar:  Amid surge in Covid-19 cases and to tackle any exigency in Srinagar, the Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Aijaz Asad Tuesday visited various Covid Care Isolation Centers established in Srinagar to oversee the arrangements put in place  for Covid-19 patients to be kept there for isolation to prevent spread of infection.

During his visit, the Deputy Commissioner was informed that a total of seven Covid Care Centers have been established at Kashmir University Zakura Campus, Hyderpora, NIT Srinagar, Indoor Stadium Srinagar, Marriage Hall Sanatnagar, Haj House Bemina and IMPA Hostel MA Road and around 1300 beds have been made available in these Centers.

He was apprised that around 1300 additional beds have been set up at Covid Care Isolation Centers in Srinagar to meet out any emergent situation. While giving details the DC was informed that 325 beds have been set up at Kashmir University Zakura Campus, 300 beds at Hyderpora and 295 at NIT Srinagar. Similarly, 120 beds have been kept available at Indoor Stadium Srinagar and 100 beds at Marriage Hall Sanatnagar while 125 beds have been kept ready at Haj House Bemina and 80 at IMPA Hostel MA Road. Besides bedding, Covid-19 kits and other necessary items have been kept available with each bed.

The Deputy Commissioner instructed the concerned to ensure sufficient supply of Medical Oxygen, essential medicines and other necessary requirements at all Covid Care Centers so that patients and medical staff do not face any difficulty in the time of need. He was also directed for making adequate arrangements of washrooms.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the concerned authorities to keep men and machinery ready for maintaining cleanliness in and around these Centers besides sanitization process. He directed the PDD and PHE authorities to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply to these centers.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has appealed to the people of Srinagar to strictly adhere to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. He also asked people to restrict their moment particularly in designated covid containment zones to control the spread of coronavirus. He also urged every eligible person to take the Covid-19 vaccine.

BY: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: Owing to the closure of schools in Jammu and Kashmir, the government on Tuesday said community schools should be prioritized for the students who are not able to enjoy the perks of online education.

It has been learnt that the Administrative Secretary to Government for School Education Department B K Singh has said, “The community school should be prioritized for those children who are not connected through online classes.”

Singh said, “For the ownership of the initiative, a local Committee needs to be framed per community school comprising parents, Village Education Committee (VEC) members, School Management Committee (SMC) members and other prominent persons from the habitation for monitoring and support of the community school.”

He said that the community school should invariably function in the open area or ground where the students can sit almost two meters apart from each other.

“In case of non- availability of such space, staggered schedule, shift timings and student rotation can be an option,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar:  High Court has quashed detention of two persons booked under Public Safety Act.

A bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar quashed detention order of Abdul Qadoos Rather, a resident of Kupwara who was booked under PSA on 22 November 2019 and Riyaz Khaliq Parray, booked under the law on 17 February last year by District Magistrate Baramulla.

The court directed authorities to release them from the preventive custody immediately and forthwith unless not required in some other case.

In case of Riyaz Khali Parray, the court observed that he was detained under preventive detention for his alleged involvement in subversive activities which led to the registration of FIR No.161/2019 under Sections 18, 39 of ULA(P) Act and 7/25 Arms Act.

“In the FIR, the petitioner (Paray) was released on bail by Special Judge (Designated Court), under NIA Act, Srinagar, on 6 th of February, 2020, whereas Superintendent of Police, who forwarded the relevant record including dossier and other connected documents to the detaining authority vide his communication dated 14th of February, 2020, interestingly, did not bring the factum of petitioner having been released on bail in FIR No.161/2019, to the notice of detaining authority,” the court said, adding, “It is because of this omission on the part of Senior Superintendent of Police, the detaining authority has categorically stated in the grounds of the detention that the detenue was under judicial remand and that there was every likelihood of his being admitted to bail.”

Community centres to be identified for conversion into Covid centres

Srinagar:  Mayor Srinagar Junaid Azim Mattu chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review SMC’s Covid preventive initiatives and measures being adopted across the city to stem the rise of Covid cases in Srinagar.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner SMC Athar Aamir Khan (IAS), Joint Commissioner (Administration) SMC, Riyaz Ahmed Shah (KAS), Financial Advisor SMC, Rafiq Ahmed Shah (KAS), Health Officer SMC Dr. Javaid Ahmed, Deputy Director Planning, Khurshid Ahmed Makhdoomi, Tehsildar South Srinagar Rabiya Yousuf, Executive Engineer Mechanical, Itrat Naseem, Chief Sanitation Officer SMC Nazir Ahmed Baba and other senior officials.

Mayor passed instructions for appropriate sanitisation protocols to be adopted across the city, especially at public hostpots, marketplaces, mosques and within micro-containment zones notified by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for Srinagar District.

“Appropriate sanitisation protocols should be adopted to augment efforts to stem the spread of COVID in Srinagar. Special focus should be maintained at vulnerable potential hotspots and public places as well as micro-containment zones notified in Srinagar. Public Offices and institutions that witness a large number of public delegations should also be prioritised for strict enforcement of COVID norms and daily sanitisation protocols”, he said.

Mattu also asked Commissioner SMC and Joint Commissioner SMC to prepare a list of SMC Community Centres across the four zones of the city that can be converted into COVID-care centres with oxygen-supported beds. In this context, the Mayor asked SMC’s Financial Advisor to draw up a contingent plan as per financial guidelines and norms in vogue to propose a time-bound model to ensure timely creation of such COVID centres with oxygen-supported beds.

“While the District Administration has already identified nearly 1,300 beds collectively at interim designated COVID centres in Srinagar, we should try to augment this by creating a second-line of reserve COVID centers at our Community Centers in Srinagar. This would be a vital step in ensuring we are prepared for every eventuality if the need arises”, the Mayor added.

He also sought strict enforcement of COVID guidelines in Srinagar especially restriction of gatherings beyond permitted numbers as well as the usage of face-masks.

“Fines should be imposed against shops, stores, bank branches and other institution and commercial entities which are found in violation of COVID guidelines. Such entities should be sealed and prosecuted for nuisance and negligence as per relevant statutes of law. The SMC should work in close coordination with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) towards this direction”, added Mattu.

The SMC Mayor also asked for community representatives, opinion makers, religious scholars and trade body representatives to be invited and involved in building a community consensus for COVID guidelines to be self-enforced to aid the administration’s ongoing efforts to fight COVID in Srinagar.