Coronavirus: KDMC stays decision to keep out locals working in Mumbai

The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation KDMC on Wednesday put on hold its controversial decision to deny entry to local residents employed foressential services in Mumbai which has reported the highest number of COVID19 cases in Maharashtra after a furoreApart from KDMC the municipal corporation of Ulhasnagar and municipal councils of Ambernath and Badlapur all in neighbouring Thane districthad announced similar decisions on TuesdayHowever only KDMC has stayed the decision which was supposed to come into force from May 8 and remain effective till May 17 during the period of the extended lockdown The announcement to suspend the decision was made on Wednesday by KDMC commissioner Vijay SuryavandhiIssuing an order the KDMC commissioner had on Tuesday appealed to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC and other establishments to arrange for the stay of their employees who travel from KDMC to MumbaiMany COVID19 cases found in KalyanDombivli and Ulhasnagar municipal corporations traced the source of their infection under the BMC limits Unless we stop people from moving between these cities and Mumbai we cannot control further spread of COVID19 said officials from both the municipal corporationsAmbernath and Badlapur municipal councils have given options to their residents who travel daily to Mumbai to either stay in the metropolis from May 8 till May 17 or to avoid going to work and stay at their homes Meanwhile several nurses and employees of the stategovernment and the BMC have expressed their concerns over the decision of the KDMC and UlhasnagarWhat will happen to daily chores if I stay here in Mumbai for more than a week My son is not even threeyearold who will look after him said a nurse from staterun Nair Hospital who travels from Dombivli via busIt is not an issue of one or two days Everyone is scared of coronavirus infection We feel safe when we go home and spend time with our family members We can not simply stayin Mumbai I am not even sure about what kind of facilities we will be provided if we choose to stay in Mumbai said a BMC stafferHowever several health officials attached with these municipal corporations and councils have said that more than 50 per cent of COVID19 cases in the metropolitan areas weretraced to Mumbai Some people returned from Mumbai have infected local residents which has further stressed our already fragile health infrastructure they saidCongress leader and Mumbai city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh said the issue would be discussed at the state government levelThis is the time to applaud the coronavirus warriors The people who travel from KDMC Ulhasnagar Badlapur and Ambernath to Mumbai are nurses BMC employees and other officials who are required to work in this crisis We should be respecting their effortsThere are some places identified in Mumbai where temporary arrangements for accommodation can be arranged for people working in hospitals and other essential services The state government will discuss the issue and decide further he saidHowever Shiv Sena leader and Thane guardian minister Eknath Shinde said that no such decision will be taken without consulting the authorities concerned Earlier in the day Thane Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vijay Singhal suggested that similar decisiontoban entry of local residents working in Mumbaican be takenKalyan MP Shrikant Shinde expressed the need for a proper staying facility for the people who travel to Mumbai to avoid further spread of coronavirus infection Such arrangement can be made in Mumbai city he said Millions of workingclass people commute daily to Mumbai in local trains and other transport for work from Thane Navi Mumbai Virar KDMC Ulhasnagar Ambernath and BadlapurCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news