Civic staff sealed the front of 2 flats with tin sheets
Civic staff shut off 2 flats in Domlur with tin sheets, remove them hastily after Twitter storm
In face-saving mode, BBMP chief pulls up area engineer
BENGALURU:
Not only has BBMP been found wanting in its overall Covid management, its staff also go to bizarre extremes in individual cases.
In response to concerns over a Covid case in the 180-flat Ranka Heights building in Domlur Layout, civic staff sealed the front of 2 flats with tin sheets on Thursday.
Netizens furious
Thankfully, one of the residents uploaded the photos on Twitter, setting off a storm of indignation amongst netizens. A thoroughly chastised civic agency removed the barricades soon after.
As soon as fellow IAS officers tagged BBMP on Twitter, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad and Special Commissioner D Randeep ordered an inquiry against Shantinagar sub-division executive engineer Radhakrishna.
The tweet by one of the residents, Satish Sangameswaran @satishs read: “BBMP sealing done in our building for a confirmed Covid case. Lady with 2 small children, next door neighbours are an aged couple. What if there is a fire, @BBMPCOMM ? Understand the need for containment, but this is an extremely dangerous fire hazard – please address urgently…”
“Apart from the fire hazard, it also makes it difficult for the emergency response team set up within the apt to support the families on groceries, etc. They are bulk ordering to minimise delivery contact, this makes it impossible to pass on big packages of essentials,” he tweeted.
Apart from the fire hazard, also makes it difficult for the Emergency response team set up within the apt to support the families on groceries, etc. They are bulk ordering to minimise delivery contact, this makes it impossible to pass on big packages of essentials.
— Satish Sangameswaran (@satishs) July 23, 2020
Top officer shocked
IAS officer LK Atheeq who is in-charge of providing training to ward-level committees in BBMP limits, tweeted: “This is not the SoP. I am surprised they did this. Have requested Special Commissioner @Randeep_Dev to get it looked into. He has reverted saying it will be removed soon. @BBMPCOMM.”
“Should not have been placed in the first place, but the barricades have been removed. Thanks @Randeep_Dev for quick action. Fear surrounding #Covid_19 should be brought down & the stigma should be removed,” he said.
Should not have been placed in the first place, but the barricades have been removed. Thanks @Randeep_Dev for quick action.
— ಎಲ್ ಕೆ ಅತೀಕ್ L K Atheeq (@lkatheeq) July 23, 2020
Fear surrounding #Covid_19 should be brought down & the stigma should be removed. @BoskyKhanna @nagarjund
‘Ignorant staff’ excuse
BBMP Commissioner Manjunatha Prasad said the sheets were removed within hours after it was brought to his notice. “It came to my notice. It is removed. It was negligence and ignorance, and dereliction of duty by lower-level staff. Action will be taken against them,” he said.
@BBMPCOMM says tin sheet removed and action will be taken against the officers.. pic.twitter.com/12WfbdZsjz
— yasir mushtaq (@path2shah) July 23, 2020
‘Residents called BBMP’
Speaking to thebengalurulive, Domlur ward corporator CR Lakshminarayan said the sealing team went to the building after the Ranka Heights Apartment Association called to say one of the residents had tested positive. “In fact, the team which went to seal the area covered two flats with sheets, which was against the standard operating procedure. Soon after the issue was raised on twitter, BBMP officials removed the sheets. Action is awaited against the engineer,” he said.
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