Authorities Wednesday stopped several restaurants and roadside outlets found violating government orders, from carrying out business.
The District Administration Wednesday sealed severaleateries located in different areas of Srinagar for violating closure ordersissued by District Magistrate Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary under the disastermanagement act 2005 in the wake of the declaration of coronavirus as anepidemic in J&K.
Four eateries including a major restaurant at Karan Nagararea were sealed during the inspection drive held across the district. Onedrugstore located at Batamaloo area was also acted against with authoritiesinstructing immediate suspension of operations of the drugstore.
The action taken against these outlets coupled withextensive inspections held across Srinagar with several teams inspectingdifferent kinds of establishments in each of the seven tehsils of the district.
In aggregate from all seven tehsils these special teamsinspected 41 restaurants, 52 drugstores, 55 street vendors and 170 vehicles upto 5 pm on the first day after issuance of the order.
The administration also conducted extensive sanitisation atvarious places in the district. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation deputedteams and disinfected eight important public locations including among othersGB Pant hospital, CD hospital, Airport and Nowgam railway station.
It is notable that seven main teams have been constitutedfor holding inspections and ensuring strict implementation of instructions theDM has issued. Each team has five members with each member representing theirconcerned line department.
Special SMC teams visited various municipal areas inSrinagar to enforce orders issued on March 11 under J&K Municipal Act.
During today’s drive, some restaurants which were open atKaran Nagar were stopped from carrying out the business. “The violators areliable for punishment for breach of section 285 J&K Municipal Act,” saidSMC Secretary Muhammad Akbar Sofi who supervised the today’s operation.
He said the owners and the managers of these restaurants andsome food outlets were warned of strict action under law. “We have forwardedall such cases to the SMC commissioner. The violators have also been put onlist and would be taken to task under law in case they repeat the violation,”Sofi said.
SMC Commissioner Gazanfar Ali said all measures are beingtaken in view of government orders issued from time to time, to stop the spreadof infection.
“We have also deployed special 200 teams for specialsterilization at vulnerable hubs, including all mass flea markets, traditionalSunday market, and other street vendor markets.
As per the precautionary orders, all public congregational,whether social or political or religious are disallowed within municipallimits. “We are going to establish eight camps at different locations inSrinagar for sterilization of public transport. The camps will start operatingfrom March 19,” the SMC Commissioner informed.
He said the process of sterilization is being carriedregularly and guidelines of the World Health Organization are being adhered toin letter and spirit.