At least three new micro-containment zones have been marked in different blocks of Salt Lake by the district administration on July 25, taking the total number of containment zones in the planned area of Salt Lake to 11.

But although a flat has been earmarked as a micro-containment zone in Sraboni Abasan, no traffic guardrails or policemen were spotted there as is the case in most other addresses housing Covid-positive patients across Salt Lake.

The housing complex has high-ranking government officials as residents. Neighbours alleged that in the absence of barricades, the contained residents were freely moving out.

When this irregularity was pointed out by The Telegraph Salt Lake, an official of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation said guardrails were not placed in front of the apartment as all the residents were government officials who needed to step out for important work. “Blocking the entry is going to create a hindrance for them,” said the official, his response putting a question mark against the very concept of a micro-containment zone.

Incidentally, when a family tested Covid positive some weeks ago in D Block of Labony Abasan, the building entrance was barricaded with guard rails tied to bamboo poles. The barricade was removed after 21 days.

Apart from Sraboni Abasan, a house in DA Block has got added to the list after several members of the same family tested positive for Covid-19. “We have given the residents our contact numbers so that they can get in touch with us for essentials as well as medical emergencies. We have asked them not to step out,” said the official.

A flat in EE Block and a house in AH Block have also been identified as fresh containment areas.

The Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area has still the highest number of micro containment zones in North 24-Parganas with 18, while Barasat comes second with 11. There are seven zones in Habra and Khardah Municipality has five. Rajarhat block has three along with Kamarhati Municipality.

As of now, Covid numbers in the BMC area are low. Around eight to 15 new cases are being reported on an average every day, and there have been no Covid-related deaths reported in the past week, officials said.

Should a micro-containment zone be barricaded even if it is an apartment block?Write to The Telegraph Salt Lake, 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001 or email to saltlake@abp.in