SMC gears up to implement ‘Mask Up’ campaign, several fined

People without masks being fined in Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel
People without masks being fined in Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 1: Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Gazanfar Ali along with Secretary SMC Sofi Akbar and other senior officers today took a tour of the city centre up to TRC and adjoining areas of Lal Chowk to implement its ‘Mask Up’ initiative in the view of COVID-19 during which several violators were fined.
While inspecting various shops, shopping malls, institutions, departmental stores, Commissioner SMC also checked the passenger buses, bikers, private vehicles, banks to see whether people were wearing masks and following COVID 19 guidelines.
During the inspection, people who were found out to be without masks were fined on spot.
While interacting with media, SMC Commissioner briefed them about the various initiatives that are being taken up for implementation of COVID guidelines with a greater focus on getting masked up which is necessary to protect own self and others from spreading or contracting the deadly disease COVID 19
“The initiative to impose fine and keep a tight check on people for wearing masks is imperative as it will also encourage people who are negligent and do not show a collective responsibility towards the implementation of COVID guidelines and do not mask up at public places,” he said.
Several SMC teams have been created in 35 wards in Srinagar city under the supervision of concerned Ward officers. On the occasion, the fine was recovered from different areas of Srinagar city from the violators.
SMC said that the campaign will continue till people get habitual of wearing face masks while venturing out and also follow other norms including social distancing set under Covid 19 guidelines.