BARAMULLA: At least eight villages in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district Thursday were declared as ‘Micro Containment Zones’ to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the officials said.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the villages designated as ‘Micro Containment Zones’ including Khawaja bagh lower petrol pump to jetty road, Chak Kanispora, Sangri colony, Kanli Bagh, Dewan Bagh, Delina (Qazi-Mohalla) Rawatpora, Delina ghat, Milat colony, Sherwani Colony and Lone-Mohalla Farozpora.
An order issued by Deputy Commissioner Baramulla in this regard, reads that whereas, in view of emerging situation due to COVID, the state Executive Committee of Department of Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation & Reconstruction vide Government Order No 11-JK (DMRRR) of 2021 dated 30/3/2021, has empowered the District Magistrate to take local preventive measures for checking spurt in infections.
It reads, “whereas, it has been to appear to me, in view of the situation emerging due to COVID-19 in locations mentioned below in District Baramulla, that there is sufficient ground for proceeding under section 144 of CrPC for immediate prevention and speedy remedy is desirable to prevent danger of human life, health or safety.”
The other further reads, “Now, therefore, I, Bhupinder Kumar, IAS, District Magistrate, Baramulla hereby order that the above mentioned location shall be Micro Containment zones and the following restrictions shall be in place with immediate effect and till further orders.”
It said that the above mentioned areas shall be under strict lock down and tight perimeter control, except for essential needs. There shall be no movement, whatsoever, in and out of the Micro Containment Zone except essential services and medical emergency for any medical emergency, individual can contact 24X7 control room at 01952-22343, 7006493646 and necessary facilitation shall be done.
The order further stated that it shall be mandatory for the person’s residing in designated Containment Zones to get themselves tested and any refusal in this regard shall invite action including lodging of FIR under relevant provisions of Disaster Management Act. Duty Magistrate, BMO and SHO concerned of the area shall ensure that 100% sampling and testing is done.
It added that it is further ordered that: “Tehsildar concerned shall be the overall in-charge for enforcing of Micro Containment SOPs in the notified zones. He shall also deploy a Duty Magistrate, Administrator and Nodal officer for each containment zone.
That the BMO concerned shall ensure deployment of sufficient teams for sampling and surveillance of the designated MCZs.
“Since, it is not possible to serve prior notice of this order, it is as such being issued ex-parte. Any violation of this order shall invite punitive action under section 188 of Indian Panel Code and other relevant sections of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Disaster Management Act, 2005,” it reads.