Mass entry permission to unscreened migrant lanbourers brings Budgam at the brink of a big Covid blast : Hakeem

Srinagar : Chairman People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Wednesday expressed serious concern over manifolds spike in Coronavirus cases among migrant labourers in Budgam district from last few days. He said only Covid infection free labourers should be allowed to enter the district.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Hakeem expressed serious concern over the massive spread in Coronavirus infection in district Bugam adding that about 80 migrant lanbourers were tested positive yesterday. Urging for declaring health emergency in the district to check further spread of Pandemic, Hakeem Yaseen said that it was due to the wrong policy of the administration to permit entry of labourers in the kashmir valley without conducting thier mandatory health screening at Lakhanpur entry point, that Coronovirus was spreading at an alarming speed . He said whole district was heading towards a major health catastrophy, if damage control measures to check further spread of infection was not taken on emergency basis. He has also demanded an independent investigation into the serious negligence as to how un- screened labourers were allowed to enter the valley particularly in district Bugam. He said only those migrant labourers should be allowed to enter in the valley who are detected coronovirus infection free at the lakhanpur entry point. He said in view of the covid infection surpassing each passing day, administration should take urgent measures to check further spread of the disease on war footing basis.
” By allowing migrant labourers to enter the valley directly without conducting their health screening and Covid testing at Lakhanpur entry point , the administration has itself resorted to violation of Covid SOPs, ” Hakeem observed adding that authorities at the helm of affairs shall have to be answerable before the people of kashmir for this lapse.
Hakeem said though medical fraternity was fighting the dreadful disease with all its might, even at the cost of their lives and thier loved children, the callous attitude and flawed decision making of the administration has made thier sacrifice too to go in waste . He has demanded stern action against the black sheep in the administration, , who have comitted the blunder to permit migrant labourers to enter the valley without conducting their health screening and covid testing at the Lakhanpur entry point as per the mandatory health advisories and protocol.
Hakeem said revival of the dying economy was all ok but it should not be at the cost of life. Life comes first, then livelihood. He said even the annual Amarnath Yara has been postponed this year to save the precious life of pilgrims, so what was the emergency in bringing migrant labourers in the valley particularly in Budgam district clandestinely at a time when COVID has started showing its ugly face in Kashmir and we see hospitals are flooded with positive cases, patients are gasping, their attendants wailing and the health workers helpless.
Hakeem appealed people to take care of their lives by themselves as the administration seems to be least bothered about it’s responsibilities towards it’s people to safeguard thier lives . He has asked the people to follow health advisories religiously adding that use of face masks and keeping mandatory social distancing should not be violated in violated in any case.