Residents oppose Covid centre inside police quarters in Kalina

A white cloth demarcates the entry and exit to the COVID centre in T-3 building, at the police quarters. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

The Mumbai police is in the process of re-starting a Covid centre for its personnel and their kin at Kalina, but around 100 cops' families residing in the same society, have opposed it. The Kole Kalyan Kalina police quarters consists of five buildings, of which one, T-3, had been used as a Covid centre for cops during the first and second wave of the pandemic. The society did not have any residents then. However, police personnel and their families moved into the society when the centre was shut as cases fell, towards the end of 2021.

No separate entry and exit

Residents are opposed to the centre as T-3, a nine-storey building, does not have a separate entry and exit. Currently, a route to T-3 has been marked with a white cloth separating it from the residents entry and exit to the society. Residents say this is risky for their kids and senior citizens and there should be a different entry and exit for T-3. The centre will be for moderate Covid patients. Last year, the building at the Kole Kalyan Kalina police quarters was converted into the centre where more than 1,000 cops were treated and the BMC also set up 500 beds. The building which was converted into the Covid centre, T-3, is second in the complex.

‘A dangerous plan'

Speaking to mid-day, a police inspector said, "The entry and exit of the society is the same for the Covid centre. A separate route has been marked for the centre using a cloth. There should be a different entry and exit for the centre. It will start in 2-3 days and it will be difficult for us to live there. Our kids play in the compound and senior citizens also have walks there. It will be too risky for them."

Another officer said, "We are working in the police department and can't complain about the Covid centre. We are not against it, but its entry, exit should be different. We understand that this centre is for our relatives and us, but we don't want to increase the risk for our families."

Another police officer said, "The only option left is to not send our kids to play in the compound or near the gate. We don't have any other entry, exit. The department should take precautions for our families and give the centre a separate entry and exit."

Official speak

"The Covid centre is in a wing of the society in Kole Kalyan Kalina police quarters. There is only the main gate to enter the society, but there is a diversion for the Covid centre. If people are scared, we will put barricades also, so they will be safe. There won't be any issue," said Joint CP Rajkumar Vhatkar.

So far over 125 police personnel have tested positive in the city since cases began to rise. Two of them, PSI Rau Ramu Redkar and ASI Mahendra Singh Bhati, were posted at Deonar police station and the Motor Vehicle Department at Nagpada respectively. Redkar died on Friday and Bhati passed away on Saturday.