The Omicron Agenda CAn BBMP keep our city safe?

As worries about the Omicron variant continue to rise, all eyes are on the BBMP and its implementation of government orders. This includes identifying Covid clusters where there are more than three cases, ensuring that non-vaccinated people don’t enter apartments and gated communities and monitoring the entry of travelers from high-risk countries. Home Guards are being deployed with BBMP Marshalls to ensure that Covid rules are followed, BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta tells SHYAM SUNDAR VATTAM

News Trail: Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai has recently announced the demarcation of a cluster in case three or more Corona positive cases are reported. How many clusters have been created?

Gaurav Gupta: We don’t identify all clusters in 24 hours. We have been working with these clusters for the last several months and wherever there are three cases, they are declared a ‘cluster’ and the location might be deemed a containment zone. We are continuing to work with the same kind of zeal and enthusiasm.

NT: The government has decided to restrict the entry of fully-vaccinated people into apartments and gate communities. Has this been implemented in BBMP limits?

GG: This is a new mandate and we hope it will be strictly followed. Our officers are working on the execution and are in touch with a number of Resident Welfare Associations, who in turn are in touch with us. This communication has been taking place over the last three months. On ground, it is ultimately up to RWAs to implement the order in the interest of the common good. They are free to contact us for queries and the BBMP is always ready to help them get the order implemented in letter and spirit.

NT: How are you planning to maintain records of the number of people landing at Kempegowda International Airport from South Africa? Will it involve seeking assistance from South African consulates or the Embassy, to provide details of people traveling to India in general and Bengaluru in particular?

GG: It is incorrect to say that we don’t have any idea of how many people are coming in from South Africa! The record of passengers arriving in Bengaluru is available with airport authorities. It is being shared with us and we know exactly how many people are entering the country from there! So, we don’t need help from either the South African Embassy or the Consulates, as their duty is to protect their nationals and promote their business interests here. Their duty does not include involvement in the public health space. Declarations, submission of documents and testing are all done prior to boarding the flight. When they land at the airport, these papers are checked – these are routine procedures at an airport. The central government’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also launched the ‘Suvidha Portal’. Travelers have to upload their vaccination Aadhaar and vaccination status prior to the commencement of the journey. There is compulsory testing for people arriving from high-risk countries. Seeking help from the consulate is a wrong idea.

NT: It has been alleged that social distancing protocols are being totally ignored in the Namma Metro. Seats meant for three passengers are being occupied by twice that number. Will the BBMP issue directions to BMRCL authorities in this regard?

GG: Yes, definitely. All public transport facilities – BMTC buses, KSRTC, Metro and railways are supposed to ensure that social distancing rules are strictly followed. The directions issued by the State Government hold good for them too. I repeat that we will convey the government’s strict directions to them.

NT: What about deployment of additional forces especially in the city to ensure social distancing and mask-wearing in BBMP limits?

GG: We already have 54 teams of Marshalls and home guards working together in the BBMP limits. This is to ensure that Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) is strictly followed by the people. That is why Home Guards have been deployed alongside the Marshalls.

NT: Vaccine hesitancy remains a problem among lakhs of people, even in Bengaluru. While the coverage of the first dose has been good, has that of the second dose been satisfactory? If not, what efforts are being made to up the ante of vaccination drives?

GG: The BBMP has taken up the vaccination drive at full speed and is trying to vaccinate as many people as possible. On Saturday, they vaccinated 89,000 people in Bengaluru City and 62,000 persons on Sunday. The Palike isn’t leaving any stone unturned in its efforts to ramp up the vaccination drive. We have launched door-to-door drives in BBMP limits. Our aim is to cover the entire population, as vaccines work against both Delta and Omicron variants.