Sangrur administration sets up Punjab's first COVID-19 Safety Station

Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, April 6

In first of its kind initiative, Sangrur district administration has installed a COVID-19 Safety Station (CSS) at the local administrative complex as a pilot project in Punjab.

Similar stations will also be set up at grain markets of the district in the coming days.

CSS will sanitise each visitor to the office using a four-step process.

First, an infrared thermal scanner will record the temperature of the person passing through it. If a person is found having a higher body temperature than normal, he will immediately be sent to 'flu centre' established at the civil hospital.

If the temperature is normal, then in the second step, a washbasin has been installed, where taps are foot-operated.

In the third step, a concentrated sodium hypochlorite solution will be sprayed on the visitor's body with the help of tiny sprinkles.

Finally, a booth has been established which has ceiling fans and hand dryers. Hands and clothes will be dried without using a towel, as the use of a towel by multiple persons could also increase the risk of contamination.

“The first project of its kind in the state. In coming days, we would install CSS at all grain markets of the district to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the forthcoming wheat season. It will sanitize farmers, commission agents, labourers and administrative officials during the wheat procurement season,” said Sangrur DC Ghanshyam Thori.

Thori said that the wheat arrival in grain markets is expected from April 10 and Sangrur has a more than 10 per cent share in Punjab's wheat basket.

“Presently, there are three models of it, which cost from Rs 1 to 2 lakhs. We are trying to arrange money for this project. CSS could easily sanitize 4-5 persons within a minute," said Thori.

The DC said that District Revenue Officer (DRO) Gagandeep Singh has been appointed in-charge of thE project.

The president of Sangrur Industrial Chamber (SIC,) Ghanshyam Kansal, said they would fund the installation of two CSS at the offices of Sangrur and Patiala SSPs in coming two-three days.

“We have prepared CSS within last 20 working hours after the directions of local DC. We are ready to manufacture more," said Balwinder Jindal, former president of SIC.