A Covid-19 awareness camp was held on Sunday with doctors addressing residents of AB and AC Blocks. However, with “stay home” orders enforced, loudspeakers were installed around so all could hear the doctors without having to visit the community hall.

Days after cyclone Amphan claimed around 3,000 trees around the township, councillor Anindya Chatterjee has started a plantation drive in his ward.

“Two hundred and fifty trees have fallen in Ward 41 so we shall plant 300 to replace them,” said Chatterjee at the launch of the drive on May 31. “We are calling the project Rebuild Bidhannagar and will be consulting experts before planting the saplings. The trees will be planted such that their roots don’t get entangled with sewerage lines and their branches are not affected by overhead cables.”

The drive was kicked off from AC Block community hall by deputy mayor Tapas Chatterjee, who planted a guava sapling next to the hall. The committee will be planting more fruit trees such as mango, jackfruit and litchi in the coming weeks. “Many other dignitaries were slated to come, including minister and MLA Sujit Bose but since he has been diagnosed with Covid-19, we kept it low key,” said Chatterjee.

The ongoing lockdown has led to a crisis of blood and the ward hosted a blood donation camp on the same day, organised by the blood bank of Bidhannagar Sub-divisional Hospital. Keeping Covid-19 protocol in mind, the bank had capped the number of donors at 40.

“I’m a health worker in this ward and wanted to help those in need of fresh blood,” said Bhaskar Biswas, walking out of the hall. “People are scared to come to such camps now but since I’ve been working for Covid and Amphan relief, I was eager to help out here too.”

Through the ward, the Rotary Club of Calcutta Laban Hrad donated 50 PPEs to the sub-divisional hospital. Chatterjee, who is president of the club, facilitated the handover. “The club received donation of Rs 20,000 from Karunamoyee resident Sanjay Ghosh, who commemorated his parents’ 57th anniversary thus,” he said.

Residents and institutes in the ward have also donated to the state emergency relief fund. “Together for Covid and Amphan, we raised about Rs 1,40,000. Even Labanhrad Vidyapith (AD School) and BD Market traders’ association contributed. Today we shall be handing over the cheques to the authorities,” said Chatterjee.

saltlake@abpmail.com