Srinagar, April 19: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu on Monday said that a sustainable approach is imperative to take on the ongoing variant of the Covid-19 pandemic, and added more than 100 people won’t be allowed at one point in time in tourist destinations while 50 in religious places.

The Mayor SMC, who was accompanied by Commissioner SMC Amir Athar Khan, addressed media persons in Srinagar and sought absolute support of people in evolving sustainable approach in containing the ongoing fresh variant of Covid-19 pandemic. He said the challenges before the society needs collective and befitting response while following Covid-19 SOPs properly.

“Today all stakeholders including senior health experts, specialists, SMC officers and other concerned met and discussed the challenges put forth before us by Covid-19 pandemic. We are working and discussing the modalities. A sustainable approach is imperative to overpower the ongoing situation,” Mayor said.

He said they are discussing the modalities wherever SMC’s assistance is needed and where not?

Mattu said, “I am going to form a consultative committee wherein all stakeholders including SMC, health experts, community members will be on board to get a community response against the ongoing Covid-19 variant,” and added the district Srinagar witnessed 520 cases yesterday and the SMC is monitoring the situation keenly.

He added the fight against the pandemic can be won only when there is strict adherence to SOPs at the community level, and asked people in general to avoid crowded places unnecessarily and maintain the guidelines in letter and spirit.

About the decisions taken by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor recently, the Mayor said that they are going to work in close coordination with administration and disaster management to ensure no SOPs are violated amidst a surge in Covid-19 caseloads in the city.

While appealing to people to strictly adhere to guidelines issued by the Government, Mattu said that given the holy month of Ramadan, people should offer prayers at home.

In a reply to a question, he said that SMC won’t allow more than a hundred people at any tourist place at one point in time. “Recently, DDM has issued strict guidelines and breaching of SOPs was termed as unlawful. We won’t allow big gatherings in tourist destinations onwards. Only 100 people would be allowed at one point in time in tourist places while 50 would be allowed to assemble in religious places,” he said.

He added that SMC will approach Imams, preachers and other clergies of all religions and seek their support in enforcing SOPs on the ground.

To a query, he said the SMC will approach SSP Traffic and seek their support to ensure decongesting passenger vehicles in the city. “How to ensure crowded free passenger vehicles in the city, SMC will talk to SSP Traffic in this regard,” Mattu said.