Guidelines of Health Ministry being violated
Ajay Raina
JAMMU, Nov 1: In blatant violation of the Standing Operative Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding COVID-19 pandemic, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has failed to evolve a mechanism for sanitization of gym equipments installed in 50 parks of the Jammu city.
In the SOPs, the Union Ministry has laid enough thrust on the sanitization of gym equipments wherever installed as multiple people use the same and thus can become reason for spread of Coronavirus if not properly disinfected after regular intervals.
In order to inculcate habit of fitness among the city residents, the Jammu Municipal Corporation in the recent past decided to install “open gyms” in the parks in all the 75 wards irrespective of the same being maintained by the Corporation, Jammu Development Authority and Floriculture Department.
Till date open gyms have been installed in 50 parks while as the process is on for installation of fitness equipments in remaining 25 parks. As per the agreement reached between JMC and the company engaged for installation of open gyms, the maintenance part is to be looked after by the latter.
Despite being aware of the fact that these fitness equipments are being put to use by the large number of people in morning as well as in the evening hours and can become source for spread of Coronavirus, which has created havoc in the entire world, the Jammu Municipal Corporation has failed to evolve a mechanism for proper and regular sanitization of gym equipments.
What to talk of JMC, even JDA and Floriculture Department have not paid serious attention towards this vital aspect aimed at containing the spread of Coronavirus. As per the reports, these gym equipments have not been disinfected ever since their installation as a result of which people are exposed to threat of Coronavirus.
“I visit the park twice for exercise and use these equipments like large number of other people but I have never seen anybody from the Jammu Municipal Corporation or any other agency disinfecting the same either in the morning or in the evening hours”, S N Raina, a middle aged person and resident of Pamposh Colony said, adding “no doubt like many other people I keep sanitizer in my pocket to disinfect my hands soon after the exercise but the authorities concerned cannot shirk from their responsibility of ensuring sanitization of these equipments”.
Raj Kumar, a resident of Paloura, who regularly visit the park nearby his residence said, “If the authorities concerned can engage gardener for maintenance of the park what is the harm if the task of sanitization is assigned to him also by paying some extra money”, adding “initially I started using these equipments but after noticing that there is no mechanism for their sanitization I stopped even touching them as nobody knows when Coronavirus will infect the users of these equipments”.
“No doubt installation of open gym is a good initiative on the part of Jammu Municipal Corporation but in the prevailing situation not only people even concerned authorities are supposed to be extra cautious even if the same puts additional financial burden on the exchequer”, Sheetal Devi of Old Rehari said, adding “JMC has all the paraphernalia for disinfection purpose as such it is not difficult for regular sanitization of gym equipments”.
When contacted, Deputy Mayor Advocate Purnima Sharma admitted that the equipments installed in the open gyms are prone to infection particularly COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sanitization of these equipments is not in the domain of JMC but I will ensure that Corporators of all the 75 wards get the equipments sanitized at-least once a day”, she added.
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