Corpn cracks whip on social distancing violations, seals shops

As part of the intensive drive against shops and also individuals who violated COVID-19 containment norms, including social distancing, the Corporation imposed penalty on 600 persons for not wearing masks. “Overall, Rs 2.45 lakh was collected as a fine amount on a single day,” said a statement from the civic body.

The Corporation had collected Rs 1.85 crore as fine for violating norms till September 3.

Meanwhile, during a meeting on Friday, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Secretary Harmander Singh instructed the Chennai Corporation field engineers to inspect construction sites in their respective divisions to ensure that workers wore masks. He also warned that the civic body would continue to impose penalty against persons refusing to wear masks and shops failing to maintain social distancing.

“Corporation should identify old-age homes and concentrate on such places to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Also, the civic body should erect advertisement banners to create awareness about social distancing and other prevention methods,” Harmander Singh said.

Apart from this, the civic body is conducting meetings with the representatives of places of worship, owners of marriage halls and others to explain standard operating procedures to be adopted by such places.