Chandigarh admn restricts entry to Sukhna Lake, Sector-17 Plaza, public parks on Holi

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

As a precautionary measure to prevent spread of coronavirus, the UT Administration has ordered that all public government parks, Sukhna Lake and Sector 17 Plaza will remain out of bound for public for Holi celebrations.

The restrictions on entry to these places will remain valid from 6 am to 6pm on March 29.

Keeping in view the rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, the UT Administration has already banned public gatherings for celebration of Holi and has advised residents to observe Holi festival in their own house while strictly following Covid protocol.

With coronavirus cases increasing sharply, the Administration has imposed the restriction to dissuade people from gathering at the lake, parks and plaza which are common places for Holi revellers.

The Administration has already directed the clubs, hotels or restaurants not to host any ceremonial gathering on Holi festival.

Over surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, the Administration had already imposed restrictions on the number of people attending a social, political or a marriage function and made it mandatory to obtain permission for holding such events.

The authorities ordered that a maximum 100 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue would be allowed for indoor gatherings and there would be a restriction of ceiling of 200 persons or 50 per cent capacity of the size of the open space for outdoor gatherings.

The Administration authorized the SDMs to grant permissions for holding such events in their respective jurisdiction.

The SDM concerned will also obtain an undertaking as per prescribed format from the applicant or organizer to ensure the compliance of all norms of Covid-19 pandemic protocols during the function.

For effective control of coronavirus, the Centre had directed the UT to strictly enforce the Test-Track-Treat protocol and scaled up rapidly the ongoing vaccination drive.

Keeping in view surge in Covid-19 cases, the Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, UT, yesterday decided to close down all anganwari centres till March 31. However, all anganwari workers and helpers were to attend the anganwari centres to carry out the field activities as usual till further orders.