'Some South Mumbai residents are busy flouting rules'

As two highrises in South Mumbai reported 32 COVID19 cases days after the city gradually started to get back on its feet many housing societies in the area rushed to implement their own sets of measures in an attempt to keep the virus at bayThey have geared up with thermal scanners and footoperated sanitisers for all nonresidents including house help and drivers entering the buildingPicBipin KokateThe residents of the posh housing enclaves of SoBo are still divided on whether or not to allow house helps and drivers in the society But they eventually decided not to prevent them from doing their jobs after much debate and discussion during a video call with Assistant Municipal Commissioner D ward Prashant Gaikwad who gave them a list of preventative measures on FridayWe have permitted parttime employees to enter as stipulated by the state government We have asked society members to apply for a temporary pass for their helpers But only those living outside of Containment Zones are permitted so only a few of them have applied for the pass said Kalpana Sharma joint secretary of Malabar Apartments The society has already made arrangements for temperature checks and hand washArrangement for temperature check has been made at the Mittal Tower in South Mumbai PicSuresh KarkeraGaikwad too asked the societies to take precautionary measures when allowing nonresidents in the building while also pointing out that some residents are brazenly violating the physical distancing guidelines when outsideFrom zilch to very few cases we have at least 300 infections in the area today About 30 per cent cases in residential buildings can be attributed to domestic help housekeeping and security staff Gaikwad said during the meeting facilitated by the Nepean Sea Road Citizen Forum with the representatives of the housing societies in Breach Candy Nepean Sea Road Malabar Hill and other areas in South MumbaiPrashant Gaikwad assistant municipal commissioner D wardYour domestic staff has to follow all the necessary guidelines and have to stay indoors while they are in the society Also some residents are walking and jogging in groups which should not be done he addedGaikwad suggested that if residents have trepidation about your house help or driver you can get them tested at a private laboratory This triggered a barrage of questions pointing to the need for a doctors prescription to get the test done He added You can give an undertaking that you suspect this person was in contact with an infected person and then ask for a test If they come from a Containment Zone they can be tested This is a dynamic and fluid situationThe Mittal Tower management has installed footoperated hand sanitiser dispenser for those entering the building PicSuresh KarkeraHe told the representative of the Tahnee Heights on Napean Sea Road which is sealed They can go out only for medical emergencies Arrangements should be made for vendors to drop off essentials at the building gate When a buildings entire floor is sealed you have to ensure nobody leaves their house We are getting complaints that residents are flouting this rule he addedTo a question about renovation inside flats Gaikwad said Renovation can be done but workers entering flats will have to follow all guidelines of the society He also warned citizens that July is extremely crucial as the rain will be in full spate and bring diseases like malaria and dengue symptoms of which are similar to that of COVID19Sagar Darshan building in Malabar Hill File picBipin KokateAt the end of the 90minute meeting Gaikwad asked the office bearers to become stricter with members You can check temperature regularly If you have fever do not take paracetamol at once instead see if the fever continues for twothree days You can have an oximeter to check oxygen levels for which 95 is the threshold If it dips to 9293 one has to be cautious while below 90 is an alarmAround 150 officerbearers attended the meeting via zoom said Napean Sea Road Citizens Forum head Mukul Mehra adding that the societies have been advised to make their own guidelines suiting their respective onground situationMehra too pointed to the need for residents to follow the COVID19 related guidelines sincerely Certain housing societies have been quite liberal and lax during the first phase of unlocking Matters are in our hands todayEven in Colaba and Cuffe Parade housing societies have tightened the preventative measures that were already in place There were arguments over the entry of helpers but there are people who need help So our society started temperature check and use of sanitizers at the gate House helps from Containment Zones are not allowed said Hansu Pardiwala resident of Maker Tower buildings and joint secretary of Cuffe Parade Residential Association CPRAProviding a helping hand CPRA President Aditi Jain told midday We cant deny entry of helpers but can keep it to a minimum We have asked the residents to combine their complaints of leakages AC repairs etc so one set of workers can be called for all the jobs We provide them with PPE kits For the helpers we have asked them not to gather in the common passage or use common toilets We have asked the residents to let them wait at their houses till its time for them to go to the next flatA member of one of the societies on condition of anonymity pointed out the lax attitude of the residents Gardens and markets are open where people meet in groups without maintaining safe physical distance The residents forget that they can also be the carriers of COVID19 as they go outside and continue to treat the poor who clean our homes and cook our meals as untouchables and disease carriersCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai 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 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