Pune: The garden department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to seal all parks and grounds in the city once again. PMC has taken this decision after it was observed that citizens were not following social distancing norms and not wearing masks while coming to public places.
State government and PMC in their first phase of relaxation from lockdown had from June 3 permitted use of parks and grounds for individual activities of exercise. There are a total of 204 gardens in the city. Out of those, 31 gardens were opened for public from 6 am to 8 am and 5 pm to 7 pm daily from June 4. Senior citizens above 65 years of age and children were not allowed to use the gardens. Only walking and running exercises were permitted while group exercises were banned. These parks were located outside containment zones of the city. But now the PMC has reversed this decision.
Mayor Murlidhar Mohol had demanded the closure of parks and grounds as there was a spike in COVID cases outside the containment zones. "Only those facilities should be opened up where citizens will be safe. Why such places where unnecessary crowding takes place and causes the spread of coronavirus should be opened up at all," Mohol had questioned on Monday (June 15). He had then written to Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad and Garden Superintendent Ashok Ghorpade to re-consider the decision.
Ghorpade has issued the new order and has stated in it that based on Mayor Mohol's information of coronavirus spread due to usage of open gyms and other equipment in the park by the citizens, the new decision about again closing the parks and grounds has been taken.
"It is observed that citizens are not wearing masks and not following social distancing norms while they are in the gardens and grounds. This is a violation of Commissioner Gaikwad's order and hence the 33 parks and grounds have been ordered to close until further notice," Ghorpade has said in his order.
