Nagpur: The city police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are gearing up for strict enforcement of Covid norms as the lockdown-like restrictions are proposed to be lifted from Monday.
NMC’s Nuisance Detection Squad comprising 176 retired defence personnel, 800-odd traffic cops and personnel from the police commissionerate will be on toes to ensure no crowding in public places and strict implementation of Covid-19 protocol.
DCP (traffic) Sarang Awad said, “Since April 2020, traffic police have been penalizing motorists without masks and people not following distancing norms, but our primary responsibility is enforcement and traffic management.” He said special squads will be formed to patrol busy intersections, commercial areas and other public places to contain the spread of coronavirus.
“NDS team will focus on the city’s commercial areas, especially under Gandhibagh, Mahal, Satranjipura, Mangalwari, Dharampeth and Laxmi Nagar zones,” said deputy municipal commissioner Dr Pradip Dasarwar.
Failure to maintain distancing, crowding in shops will entail heavy penalties on the shopkeepers, Dr Dasarwar said.
According to statistics procured from NMC, since the Covid outbreak, the NDS team has penalized 48,027 Covid-19 protocol violators and recovered Rs3.96 crore fine from them.
Highest fine of Rs1.66 crore was paid by citizens without masks.
Shopkeepers and marriage halls caught disobeying Covid-19 protocol paid Rs1.39 crore fine, according to the statistics.
Traffic police fined around 29,430 citizens, especially motorists, and recovered Rs1,27,18,300 fine for flouting guidelines.
Of these, 6,618 were caught without masks, while 22,812 were fined for not following distancing norms.
Besides, traffic police of 10 zones detained 6,395 vehicles for violating rules.
Dr Dasarwar appealed to the people of Nagpur to cooperate with both city police and NMC to implement rules.
“This is for everyone’s safety.
There is confidence among the people, but it should not lead to complacency and neglect.
We have all brought coronavirus under control to a large extent and with great difficulty.
It cannot be allowed to worsen again,” he said.
NMC’s nuisance detection squad and traffic police have penalized 77,457 citizens for violating Covid-19 guidelines and recovered Rs5.23 crore fine so far.