54 zones in Kolkata shake off containment tag

KOLKATA: Fifty-four city zones — mostly in north and central Kolkata — which were on the list of containment zones, are now getting rid of the tag.

Firhad Hakim, the chairman of the board of administrators governing the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, on Friday said the number of containment zones have been brought down to 286 from 340.
Some of the containment zones which have been made green zones include large areas of Belgachhia, Narkeldanga, Rajabazar and Bowbazar.In south Kolkata, too, there was relief for some areas, including Tollygunge and Patuli, said civic sources.
According to Hakim, this could be achieved because of efficient micro planning. “We were really worried at a point of time when containment zones were being added in quick succession. Then we got tougher with anyone flouting lockdown norms. Simultaneously, we deployed our health and solid waste management teams to take care of the Covid suspects. Cops also played their roles properly,” Hakim said.
TOI had reported on Friday how containment zones in Belgachhia and Narkeldanga had not reported too many cases in the past three weeks. A bit of relief was also provided in wards lying in the Entally-Beniapukur-Park Circus zone. For example, the sharpest drop was noticed in wards 60 and 66. There was good news from the south, too, as parts of Patuli and Tollygunge walked back into the green zone. On Thursday, police station OCs had written to the KMC, telling them that the mandated 21 days have passed in this zone without a fresh case being reported. The cops quoted WHO and ICMR guidelines and appealed that residents be allowed to return to normal life.
The drop, though, has been attributed to a number of reasons by police and KMC. “There was a marked change in fever surveillance, testing and stricter lockdown. We blocked all entries to the Belgachhia slum and repeated the same in Narkeldanga. We also took help of the local peace committee, comprising people from all faiths,” said DC (ESD) Ajoy Prasad.
Sources said at least a dozen of those admitted to hospitals with Covid from here have returned home and are in home quarantine.