BBN industries directed to create isolation facility

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 25

In view of rising Covid cases, the Nalagarh SDM today directed all industries in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) belt to create isolation facilities for 10 per cent of their workforce on their premises. Besides, he imposed a complete ban on community lunch and other non-essential social gatherings till further orders.

The SDM declared the Aashiana paying guest facility at Nalagarh as a micro containment zone after the detection of a Covid case there. Restrictions on the movement of people were also imposed.

Industries have been given the concession to form common isolation facilities at the cluster level as well for isolating their infected employees in case an individual industry lacks adequate space on its premises. The Deputy Director, Industries, has been directed to tell all industries to adhere to the orders and also send a compliance report to the SDM, Mahinder Pal.

The SDM said, “There has been an increase in the number of Covid cases in the industrial belt in recent days, necessitating strict measures to contain its spread. Establishing isolation facilities is a step to meet any eventuality”.

Various industry associations such as the Baddi-Barotiwala Nalagarh Industries Association, Nalagarh Industries Association, Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association and the HP Corrugation Box Manufacturers have been directed to adhere to the directions with immediate effect.

As many as 69 cases have been reported in the BBN area since yesterday while 81 active cases and 23 deaths have taken place till now. New cases have been reported in the BBN area, including Jharmajri, Baddi, Bhud, Billanwali, Katha, Nangal Dhaka, Jhajjara, Dattowal, Saini Majra, Kharuni, Ratyore, Dhabota, Nalagarh, Lodhimajra and Sallewal.

The subdivision has registered the highest spike in virus cases in the district and faces a precarious situation owing to the daily ingress of at least 80,000 industrial workers as well as truckers from Covid-hit states such as Punjab, Maharashtra, and Delhi.