Mumbai: The management of the Haji Ali Dargah has offered the shrine premises to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the state government for use as a vaccination centre.
The management committee of the 100-year-old dargah has written to the Mumbai District collectorate and the BMC, urging them to set up a camp. Trustees of the dargah have said that many people are still apprehensive about getting vaccinated and setting up a vaccination centre at one of the city’s oldest shrines could help encourage more people to come and get their shot.
“Our shrine has is closed to the public due to the ongoing restrictions. We have lots of open spaces inside the dargah and the authorities can easily set up a vaccination centre here,” said Mohammad Ahmed Tahir, administrative officer and trustee of the dargah.
Ahmed said that there were large prayer rooms with marble floors in the dargah, with attached restrooms that are being cleaned and maintained regularly; these prayer rooms could be used to set up vaccination centres and social distancing could be safely maintained.
Alongside the Haji Ali dargah, the management has also suggested Mahim Qabrastan, Matunga Masjid and Green Bombay Urdu High school as spots that could be potential vaccination centres.
“We have proposed suitable venues at both the island city and suburbs. We have scrutisined each and every location before pitching them and we can ensure that there is ample space inside the premises of these institutions and vaccination centres could be easily set up over here,” said Ahmed.
A senior civic official said that the BMC had received the request but would only be able to take a call once the municipal body gets enough doses.
“We have already allowed vaccination centres in some temples and churches in Mumbai. A centre is allowed to be set up after examining the population density in that area. We have received the proposal from the dargah trust and can take a call once we get adequate stock of vaccines,” said the official.
