Covid curbs throw up challenges in Bengal districts- plans to implement stricter curbs

The top officials held back-to-back meetings with ground-level officials in panchayats and blocks to map the steps on implementing the new set of rules

People clamber to the rooftop of a crowded bus in Nadia in a bid to reach home after the new curbs were announced on Saturday: Telegraph picture

Snehamoy Chakraborty   |  TT  |  Bolpur(Birbhum)   | 16.05.21: The administration  in districts across Bengal is chalking out plans to implement stricter curbs that the state government ordered on Saturday in a bid to break the chain of infection of Covid-19 amid the surge in cases in the second wave of the pandemic.

After the Nabanna order reached district magistrates and superintendents of police, the top officials held back-to-back meetings with ground-level officials in panchayats and blocks to map the steps on implementing the new set of curbs.

Based on conversations with senior officials, The Telegraph presents the challenges facing the administration while implementing new curbs in the districts.

Rural spread

Unlike last year, rural Bengal has seen a spike in infection this time, the biggest concern for the government.

Officials in districts have held meetings with gram panchayat functionaries and asked them to be a part of the team with the police to implement curbs in their areas. The move has been taken in districts like Birbhum, Bankura, East Burdwan and Murshidabad.

Murshidabad SP K. Sabari Rajkumar told this paper: “We have asked officers in charge of all police stations to talk to panchayat pradhans to form coordination teams for the enforcement of restrictions.”

Some police officers said intensive monitoring was easier said than done as they didn’t have enough manpower to monitor huge swathes of the interiors. For example, Birbhum has over 1,800 villages.

“We will get information from the health department where infections are alarmingly high, and focus on those hubs with special care,” said Shyam Singh, the Bankura police chief.

Interstate borders

Officials in districts with interstate borders like West Burdwan, Birbhum and East Midnapore said they have to focus on interstate bordering areas this time as there is no nationwide lockdown and different states have different policies.

East Midnapore shares borders with Odisha and the plying of vehicles was not restricted till Saturday. Officials said they have informed the bordering police stations not to allow vehicles from Odisha from Sunday morning except those with special permission.

Districts such as Birbhum, West Burdwan and Murshidabad share borders with Jharkhand. Birbhum shares borders with Jharkhand in at least eight police station areas and thousands cross the borders for livelihoods. “There will be a naka checking at each border with Jharkhand,” said Nagendra Nath Tripathi, the Birbhum SP.

Railway stations

Unlike last year, train services have not stopped completely in the state so far. Several trains are running between Calcutta and different states and north Bengal. So, important stations will be under special focus. Also, as local trains are cancelled, transport of passengers in major stations of South Bengal, like Burdwan, Asansol, Bolpur and Rampurhat has to be arranged.

“We have planned to allow hired vehicles for passengers, who will get off trains in our district,” said Birbhum official.

Markets and shops

Authorities are worried about district towns, which are trade hubs and attract people from villages. Police officers said vegetable and grocery traders will be slapped with criminal cases and fined if they violate timing curbs (7am to 10am) from Sunday.

A trader faces a minimum fine of Rs 500, said a policeman. The police have been asked to arrest those who violate the order repeatedly.

Additional reporting from Subhasish Chaudhuri, Alamgir Hossain and Anshuman Phadikar