Gurugram RWAs seek holding of COVID-themed fancy dress parties during lockdown relaxation

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, May 05

In what has rattled the local administration, the lockdown relaxation meant to reboot millennium city, has ended up making residents of Gurugram carefree to the COVID-19 threat.

From seeking permission to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries deferred by the lockdown to asking for SOPs to organise pool parties, various Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have approached the local administration with such frivolous requests.

According to a senior administration official, the administration had been trying to bring back normalcy to residents’ lives and had devised SOPs for residential societies and concerned RWAs. It was in due course that the administration was flooded with bizarre and frivolous requests.

RWA representatives of a posh society of Sohna road sought permission to organise a COVID-themed fancy dress party with dine and dance to celebrate ‘victory’ over COVID-19.

“The city has been supportive all this while which helped in curbing the spread of COVID-19. Now, the current behaviour has left us doubtful about executing lockdown extensions. The RWAs were being kept in the loop to revive normal life in non-containment zones, but apparently it was parties and yoga classes on the mind of the residents. We are flooded with requests to allow celebration of events missed out during the lockdown,” revealed a

senior official.

“The threat is not over. Now, we have the challenge to reboot while still continue the fight against COVID-19. The relaxations are a luxury for people in non-containment zones, which need to be treated with responsibility. The numbers are rising and we require citizen support to wage this battle successfully. I appeal to all to practice self-restrain and discipline,” said DC Amit Khatri.

The administration issued SOPs on Monday night on issues such as lifting of ban on walks inside societies to return of domestic staff. Instructions have also been issued over operation of lifts, allowing cabs and similar transport inside, and precautions for residents while going out to work.