Mumbai: Issuing a stern warning to political leaders and parties the BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on Monday issued a circular reminding elected public representatives to refrain from using vaccination centres, sub-centres at workplaces and housing societies for publicity of their respective political party. The civic chief has warned that those centres found flouting norms will be issued a show-cause notice and the approval to their centres will be revoked.
On June 3, the Mumbai civic body issued an order, wherein the civic commissioner had asked the elected public representatives from putting up posters, hoardings, banners showing photos and political party symbols on and around vaccination centres.
Several party leaders were accused of promoting themselves and their party in the name of vaccination. "These vaccination centres looked more like political party offices decked up with banners and posters, while actually suggests that the centres were started by the respective leader or political party," said a senior BMC officer.
Chahal said, "Why these political advertisements are being put up on vaccination centres, even as the resources including vaccine stocks, as well as all other required equipment, materials, staff, doctors and suitable places are provided by BMC at its own cost. We have found that despite clear instructions, the guidelines are being flouted. "We will issue show-cause notices to centres which have not taken our circular/orders seriously and the approval given these vaccination centres will be revoked/cancelled," the official said.
Besides this Chahal said that it will be mandatory of private vaccination centres to signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with housing societies and work places before starting an vaccination sub centres.
The circular also said that vaccinatin centres outside Mumbai will not be allowed to come in the jurisdiction of Mumbai and started vaccination centres/ camps. The circular added that at all vaccination centers proper arrangements of medical staff and ambulance should be placed.
