From Trishna Pegu Doley
GUWAHATI : Minister for Environment and Forest, Fisheries and Excise, Parimal Suklabaidya asked the Hailakandi district administration to identify the hotspots to prevent further contamination and to step up awareness to bring the COVID-19 situation under control. Reviewing the COVID-19 pandemic scenario with Deputy Commissioner, SP, representative of MP, MLAs, political representatives, ADCs, COs and officials of concerned departments at Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall here on Tuesday, Minister Suklabaidya said top priority has to be accorded in identifying the areas of contamination and to take remedial measures immediately as the district has a high positivity rate of 5.73? much above the state level.
“The way out to bring the situation under control is to identify the areas of contamination and take remedial measures forthwith, ” he asserted. The Minister urged the MLAs to create awareness among the people in their respective constituencies to come forward for vaccine as ‘it is the only way to stay safe from the coronavirus scourge’ and to dispel the wrong notion about vaccine. Taking stock of the status of ICU coming up in the civil hospital, the Minister expressed strong indignation over the tardy pace of work and directed the Executive Engineer (Building) to expedite the process. “It’s question of life and death and no one can play with the lives of people by dilly-dalllying the setting up of ICU facility”, said Suklabaidya, directing the Deputy Commissioner to monitor the work and to blacklist the contractor over inordinate delay in completing the civil work. The Minister asked the administration to focus on the tea garden areas and to step up vaccination in the wake of spike in tea garden areas as well as to ensure ration provided by the government. Suklabaidya took stock of oxygen cylinders, vaccines and bed availability in the district and assured of all possible help in case of requirements. He even instructed the Deputy Commissioner to even hire oxygen cylinders from welders if the need arises. He asked the administration and people’s representatives to persuade those affected with COVID-19 and with co-morbidity to come to hospital for treatment without delay as ‘the fatality rate in the second wave is higher than the first wave’. The Minister asked the District Commissioner and CEO, Zilla Parishad to ensure judicious utilisation of 10% of allocation earmarked by 15th Finance Commission for COVID related expenditure.
Suklabaidya directed the officials of Food, Civil Supplies and Corporate Affairs to ensure that there is no anomaly in distribution of essential commodities through public distribution system during the pandemic times. “No anomaly or pilferage of essential commodities will be tolerated during the pandemic times. Anyone trying to take advantage of the unprecedented situation will be taken to task,” he quipped. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Rohan Jha through a power point presentation gave an overview of the COVID-19 scene, and said there are 400 beds available for COVID patients, 25 oxygen concentrators and 50 ‘D’ type cylinders have been ordered. He said the district accounted for 29 deaths in the second wave and 19 containment zones have been set up together with micro containment zones to arrest the spread of the disease. Jha informed the Minister that COVID Care Centres have been set up across the district, including tea garden areas. He said though the vaccine stock for 18-44 age group is less, for 45 plus it will last for some days. Jha further apprised the Minister that out of 19 tea gardens in the district, 15 gardens have been covered. 397 COVID afflicted families have been provided ration at the rate of Rs.2, 000, he added.
