Nearly 900 People Fined For Violating COVID Norms At Pune’s Tourist Spots
The violations include non-compliance with the mask rule as well as social distancing and non-essential movement
Mumbai: Many residents from Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Mumbai were fined for flouting COVID-19 norms during their visit to tourist spots on the outskirts of the city on weekend.
The state government has announced relaxations in curbs following drop-in Covid cases.
Some popular areas including Lonavla, Sinhgad, Mulshi, Vadgaon, Pawana and others that come under Pune rural police’s Haveli and Lonavla divisions saw 532 and 365 cases of violations on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The violations include non-compliance with the mask rule as well as social distancing and non-essential movement.
Hindustan Times quoted Navneet Kanwat, deputy superintendent of police, Lonavla division, Pune rural police, “It was not our intention to impose fines, but tourist places remain closed during weekends. Markets in rural areas were also closed at 4 pm. Residents even throng restaurants that are allowed to remain open for parcel service.”
“When there is no permission to visit Khadakwasla dam and Sinhgad fort on weekend, why people visit these places?” said Sadashiv Shelar, senior inspector, Haveli police station.
Police have set up more than 20 checkpoints in Lonavla that houses more than 10-12 tourist spots.
“Many visitors are unaware that Pune city and Mumbai falls under Level 2 with more relaxations as compared to rural parts that are still under stricter Level 4 cover. Tourists engage in an argument with the police over Covid restrictions,” said Kanwat.
Meanwhile, the Pune division saw 2,180 new infections including 728 in Satara district and 579 in Pune district, as per the department.
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