Aurangabad, April 9:
The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had launched the 'Swab at Your Doorstep' campaign during the spread of Coronavirus in the last year. As a safety measure, the civic body had arranged lodging and boarding of the officers implementing the campaign in four hotels of the city. Accordingly, the civic administration has recently approved the bills of Rs 61.84 lakh submitted by these hotels.
The first Covid-19 patient was identified in the city in March 2020. Later on, due to index patients, the spreading of the virus got increased. The civic administration had a tough time in taking measures to control the pandemic situation, especially during September and October. The focus of AMC was on contact tracing, testing of the persons in contact with Covid-19 positive patients and the neighbouring areas.
Later on, the AMC administrator Astik Kumar Pandey encouraged testing through antigen tests. Accordingly, the Special Task Force was constituted under the headship of the deputy commissioner Aparna Thete. Many health teams were formed to conduct antigen tests campaigns by visiting different areas of the city. The residents were hesitant about testing. In many areas, the AMC officials were not allowed entry. Hence, the AMC had to use police force in these areas.
It may be noted that the officers and personnel in these health teams were fearing to return to their homes to avoid further spreading. Hence the administrator made their lodging and boarding arrangements in the four hotels. Accordingly, the AMC approved a bill of Rs 46.61 lakh of Hotel Raviraj, Rs 10.51 lakh of Hotel Gentleman, Rs 2.35 lakh of Hotel Seven Apple and Rs 2.37 lakh of Hotel Click (Zircon Hotels P.Ltd).