Our test drive of sealed buildings across city exposes how maids and deliverymen move freely in and out, those under quarantine have gone missing, and in some cases, residents don’t even mask up
Zenith tower in Mulund
As COVID-19 cases surge in the city, the sealing of buildings has also picked up pace, with 819 of them sealed currently. Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has ordered the sealing of buildings with more than five cases, while the floors with cases are to be sealed for a stipulated time. However, how strictly are the civic body’s directives being followed on the ground? Read on to find out the reality through mid-day’s report from the ground.
Zenith tower in Mulund had 71 cases, four were reported on Feb 22
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Residents of most buildings told mid-day that they had no clue about the sealing, and some said that they are taking precautions on their own. While the resident of one society mentioned that aren’t followed anyway.
Mahavir Shikhar had a notice declaring its sealing but no restrictions were observed. Pics/Rajesh Gupta
On the other hand, in a recently released list of 819 sealed buildings by the BMC on its website, names of buildings that are sealed and those that have sealed floors have both been mentioned, which has created confusion. mid-day followed this list for its ground report.
Lokhandwala residency, Worli
At 3.30 pm on Wednesday, at Lokhandwala residency on Dr E Moses Road, Worli, people were freely entering and exiting the premises. While the society’s watchman said that there was only one case and that the society was not sealed, a society member said that there were three positive cases of which two have recovered. There was BMC notice inside and outside the society.
Shree Darshan CHS, Gorai
Shree Darshan CHS in Gorai was sealed by the BMC recently after it reported five cases, but neither the officials nor the residents knew about it. Children played near the building and people moved about freely. An office-bearer of the society told mid-day, “This is news to us. We did not know about the sealing. Nobody adheres to guidelines here anyway.”
- Samiullah Khan
Shiv Sagar CHS, Tilak Nagar
Shiv Sagar CHS in Tilak Nagar had no COVID-related restrictions
The housing society has two towers, one with 11 floors and the other with seven. The building recently reported five cases and has been sealed, but only on paper. Except for a poster declaring the sealing of the building, no COVID-appropriate behaviour was observed. Residents were seen coming out of the building with no hindrance. The society’s office bearers were unavailable for comment.
Mulund Darshan, Mulund
The society has nine wings, with one wing having four cases and another one having two. The entire complex has been classified as sealed. While seven wings form one society, two form a different one. COVID-related precautions, however, were observed in neither society. “We don’t know about the sealing, we haven’t been told about it,” said a resident on condition of anonymity. Secretary Kishore Mundekel said, “Only two floors in our building have been sealed. I don’t know why our building’s name was put on the list of sealed buildings. Still, we are taking all precautions and restricting the movement of residents from 10 pm to 5 am.”
Mahavir Shikhar, LBS Road
The complex has 170 flats with six buildings and the BMC has put up a poster declaring it as a ‘sealed building’. However, no restrictions were observed while entering the complex. According to the BMC, the complex has more than five active cases and most of them are home quarantined. Children were seen playing at the premises without masks, while house help were seen going in and out of the complex without any checks. Nikhil Parekh, secretary of the building, said, “We are following all COVID-related guidelines. There are cases but the society is managing it.”
Golden Square, Santacruz
Located at Garden Road near Sunder Nagar in Santacruz East, the Golden Square building is supposed to be sealed. But many children were seen playing at the premises without masks and adults roamed around the compound. A security guard at the society said that a few days ago, three positive patients were found, all of whom have recovered. A society member said that they did not receive any notice from the BMC about the sealing. “BMC also did not put any notice at the gate of our society,” the resident said.
Zenith tower, PK Road, Mulund
According to a list released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Zenith tower at PK Road is one of the sealed buildings. So far, it has reported 71 cases and four were added on February 22. However, no effective measures were observed on the ground, nor was any notification put up. Shankar Jaiswal, manager of the tower, said that he was unaware of such a development. “We have positive cases in the building but the BMC has not said anything about the sealing of the premises. But we are taking precautions,” he said.
Powai woman flouts isolation order
Civic officials at L ward registered a case against a woman in her 50s for flouting quarantine rules. A patient was reported positive at Everest Heights on February 14. Civic officials visited the building and told the residents to quarantine for seven days. However, on February 17, officials received information that a woman from the floor where the case was detected, had left her home and travelled outside the city. Officials rushed to the building and found a house help working in the woman’s house and her pet at the building’s premises. The incident was reported to Powai police and an offence under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Epidemic Diseases Act was registered.
Top wards with sealed buildings
Total as of Feb 22: 819
T ward: 150 buildings
R Central ward: 139 buildings
K West ward: 113 buildings
D ward: 93 buildings
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