Guv’s ‘SMS mantra’ to fight Covid

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has said that people of the state have to handle the third wave of Covid with seriousness and there should be no place for negligence.

In his Republic Day address at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds here, Gehlot said the state government has worked day and night, and with the support of the public it has succeeded in reducing the effect of Covid-19 efficiently. “We are now facing the third wave of Covid-19. We should handle this situation with seriousness and negligence has no room now. We must continue to observe the SMS mantra of – Social Distancing, Masking and Sanitization for the sake of everybody’s health,’’ he said.

He said the state government has used the crisis as an opportunity to build on its strengths to create additional health infrastructure and enhance production capacity of oxygen cylinders and ventilators. “The state government has been working in collaboration with the Central Government to ensure that the vaccine reaches everyone in a phased manner. I and my government convey our gratitude to doctors, nurses, police and all health and frontline workers who worked continuously without break during the pandemic,’’ he said.

Gehlot congratulated the state government for developing software for containing the spread of Covid and achieving this through the Covid War Room.

He said under the Bengaluru Smart City Project 77 roads covering 158.27 km have been selected for white topping and out these 83.91 km roads have been completed and 31 main roads have been developed and made available for public transportation.

Stating that Bengaluru has been awarded as the Best Sustainable Liveable City for the management of solid waste management, he said in the first instance around 50 percent of vehicles collecting and carrying waste have been equipped with GPS. “ODF++ has been awarded for the achievement under Swach Bharat Abhiyan,’’ he said.