Chennai: Norms relaxed, crowds pour onto roads, throng shopping complexes – Times of India

CHENNAI: The just-relaxed lockdown norms seem a distant memory, with roads and shopping complexes turning chaotic in the festival season. Greater Chennai Corporation, despite an intensive enforcement drive, is finding it difficult to contain the crowds.
On Friday morning, Dr Besant Road in Triplicane was choked with shoppers, most of them not wearing masks, trying to take advantage of a festive sale offer at a textile shop on the stretch.
Officials from Teynampet zone, under which the shop falls, soon sealed the establishment after telling shopkeepers that the containment efforts undertaken over the last few months could go to waste if norms were broken like this.
“We imposed a fine on the shopkeeper who will have to give in writing that he will not repeat such an offence,” said one official. The shop was closed for 14 days as well.
Meghanath Reddy, deputy commissioner (revenue) of Greater Chennai Corportaion told TOI that the civic body will follow the health department’s order on penalties. “We have formed teams to inspect shops. The officials from the collectorate and the police department will impose penalties on individuals. Also, shops violating mask rule will be closed for seven days and those violating social distancing norms will be closed for 14 days,” he said. He also added that the entire process will be streamlined soon and their focus will be more on creating awareness.
On Thursday, a footwear showroom in Teynampet was shut after it was found to have failed to maintain physical distancing norms and ensure that its patrons wore masks. It also used air-conditioning.
Corporation officials have spread out to impose fines on several establishments. On Friday alone, 40 shops were shut, 2.45 lakh collected in fines and 600 people punished for not wearing masks. “Mask compliance has reduced compared to last month,” said a senior corporation official.
Officials are also worried that lifting of the complete lockdown on Sundays could lead to crowds in shopping districts like T Nagar and Purasaiwalkam.
The Tamil Nadu Public Health ordinance passed on Friday would give civic officials more teeth to enforce physical distancing and masks, said a senior corporation official. “Officials from other departments will also be able to enforce this,” he said.
Till Friday, the civic body had collected 1.85 crore in fines from people as well as commercial establishments for all violations. “This is not to show off collection, but to ensure that rules are followed. If we fine shopkeepers, at least next time they will remain vigilant,” the official said.
The norms will also be implemented at construction sites of private and government agencies as well, officials said, adding that area engineers of each ward would have to ensure this.