COVID-19: Seven Navi Mumbai societies fined Rs 10,000 each for violations

The housing societies, which have been fined, are located in Vashi, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli, Belapur and Sanpada

In order to ensure that people take the COVID-19 protocols seriously and abide by them, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) fined seven housing societies Rs 10,000 each within a week as residents under quarantine violated the rules. Currently. At least 5,008 buildings under NMMC's jurisdiction have been sealed and marked as micro- containment zones. Presidents and secretaries of the housing societies have been given the responsibility to ensure that residents abide by the rules.

According to the latest rules and regulations released by the Maharashtra government, housing societies having more than five COVID positive patients in a building are being marked as micro-containment zones. Floors with more than one positive patient are being sealed to contain spread of the virus. On April 5, the NMMC had released a notification saying that the housing societies found violating rules would be fined.

"We mark societies and put up banners outside so that people in the neighbourhood know that a certain building has been declared as a micro-containment zone. Entry into and exit from such buildings are restricted," said an official from the health department of NMMC. "Those under quarantine are stamped on their hands so that positive patients can be identified. The quarantine period is set and society officials are informed about the same," he added.

The NMMC has also formed flying squads that keep an eye on sealed buildings and intervene if they find any violations. Societies are fined Rs 10,000 for first-time violations, Rs 25,000 for the second time and Rs 50,000 for every violation after that. The corporation till now has fined seven housing societies in the NMMC area located at Vashi, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli, Belapur and Sanpada.

"We have to break the chain of the virus and containment area management plays a vital role in it. There should not be any movement in sealed buildings and the onus is on residents and housing society officials. We inform the presidents and secretaries of societies and they should let the residents know. But even after informing them if there are violations, we don't have an option but to penalise them," said NMMC Commissioner Abhijeet Bangar. "We are not interested in collecting penalty, but the virus is spreading rapidly and we have to contain it by all means," he added.

5,008
Total no. of sealed buildings in NMMC area