Red alert

The detection of the first Covid-19 positive case in Bengal on March 17 propelled preparedness to top gear. On March 20, Greenwood Park notified a ban on the entry of taxis and app cabs inside the complex. Milk, newspapers and couriered packets were also to be received at the main gate.

At Hiland Woods, a wash basin was installed at the main gate on March 17. In the next few days, couriers were stopped from reaching resident doors, app cabs were refused entry except in case of senior citizens or those with luggage… “We have asked security guards not to speak to residents on the mobile phones of cabbies and use our intercom to verify the booking instead,” said Sayantan Das, director, Hiland Woods, Birch Hazel Association. They also decided to keep doors of public areas open with stoppers to rule out the need to touch door handles.

At Akankha, World Health Organisation directives are being regularly posted on the notice board. Though all facilities are shut, the common areas are being sanitised. “Delivery at the doorstep is being allowed only for the elderly residents and for medicines,” said secretary of Akankha Krishnachura Apartment Owners Association Dibyendu Roy.

The ban on receiving home delivery at the door has caused inconvenience but residents are bearing it. “This is the third delivery I am coming down to collect this morning,” said Reshma Prabhakar, walking to the main gate of Sunrise Point on March 21. “With the children staying at home, I have to buy things online,” she said, adding that she understood the need for restriction on visitors’ entry.

Helping hand

What is a big relief for life in the high-rise complexes has turned into a major headache because of the lockdown — the dependence on a battalion of utility staff.

With people being urged to stay at home and transport not available, the residents suddenly find themselves on their own.

On their own

“We had anticipated this situation even before the janata curfew was announced by the Prime Minister,” said Dhrubajyoti Basak, president of Greenwood Elements in Action Area 2D. “So we did a drill on March 22, the day of the curfew, asking the staff to stay away.” Ten residents’ association members and another 10 or so volunteers were divided into teams for duties as varied as housekeeping, pump, emergency lift, garbage clearance, security, accounting etc. “Most residents had no clue where the pump or the electric meter was. The day before, the volunteers were shown around by the staffers and garbage bins with wheels bought for this situation. The drill had to continue since the lockdown was imposed immediately afterwards.”

Entry is being supervised by using an app called MyGate. “Earlier, when a visitor came, the security informed us. Now whoever is expecting visitors keeps the rest of us informed through the app or through a WhatsApp group created for the purpose. The person on duty can open the gate using a remote switch,” he explained.

The month-end is requiring another chore to be performed - collection of common area maintenance funds. “Earlier, we had an accountant to do the collection and update it on the system. Now three of us are going door to door,” Basak said.

They do have some help by way of four security guards and four housekeeping staffers who are staying on the premises. “But we are still needing about 24 volunteers to run the show. Volunteers are monitoring when everyone’s garbage is collected and drag the bin to where the NKDA collects it from,” he added.

Uniworld City, with 51 inhabited towers and more than 2,450 occupied flats, possibly needs the biggest workforce. “Once the lockdown was announced, we took a call not to let either the domestic help or the utility staff enter. Those who wanted to retain their attendants were asked to house them at home,” said Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, a member of the Kolkata Uniworld City Apartment Owners’ Association board.

A complex that is manned by 139 security guards now has barely 40 living in the complex clubhouse. Another 40 are staying in an adjoining barrack provided by the private security agency. “And since this is the start of the month, we have had to requisition the services of some of our accounts people as well. So that makes for another 30 or so living here in some unoccupied apartments. As for housekeeping staff, passes have been issued to about 45 who are locals. They are working three hours a day,” added Pradipta Dutta, another board member. “Even then, there was a shortage the other day and residents were asked to bring their garbage out to bins that have been placed outside each tower.” A kitchen has been set up to feed about 125 people every day. The board members are meeting through video conference daily to discuss and mitigate day-to-day issues.

The complex has a reason to be on its toes. The first Covid-19 suspect of New Town was from here. “He had gone for a seminar to Dubai which someone from Hyderabad who later tested positive had also attended. He returned home on February 15 and was summoned for a test on March 5. Thankfully he was cleared. Had he got infected, it would have been straight to the quarantine centre for many of us as we had had a drink together just two days earlier,” laughed Dutta.

Looking ahead

“We do not know how long the lockdown will continue. It would depend on how the disease spreads and what steps the government takes to contain it. We can only do what is in our control. We should only think about that,” Basak of Greenwood Elements summed up the situation.

Issue with visitors

The threat of infection from residents coming from abroad has emerged as a major cause for concern. “We can no longer trust residents to voluntarily disclose if they are coming from abroad. We will have to ask the security guards to check the booties of each incoming car. The luggage should be an indicator of a return from a trip. Guests coming to any resident’s house must also notify if he is coming from outside the city. We are also planning to stop renting of premises to people from outside the state,” Sudipta Mukherjee, secretary of Greenwood Sonata, said in an agitated voice while speaking to The Telegraph Salt Lake on March 18, the day after the state’s first Covid-19 patient was detected.

In the days to follow, the police also mandated that the housing committees keep the local thanas informed about all residents coming from abroad.

“We have two residents who came recently from the UK and Bangladesh. We are keeping an eye out whether they are serving the quarantine period at home or not. We are recording even the domestic arrivals,” said Gobinda Biswas, secretary of Sunrise Point.

“Someone here has come from the UK 10 days ago. He stays alone. We are offering him support for basic needs,” said Roy of Akankha Krishnachura.

At Hiland Woods, two residents recently returned from the US. “The health department calls them daily to ensure they stay home for 14 days,” said Das.

There was tension in a couple of complexes over residents coming from abroad being spotted outside before the quarantine period got over. In one case, the police had to intervene.

Such concerns spilled over to resident groups on social media as well. Some sought suggestions as to whether immediate family members of those quarantined at home should be allowed to come out or discussed risks posed by pilots or air hostesses residing in the complex.

Residents of New Town complexes have turned their premises into fortresses in a bid to guard against Covid-19. The high-rise committees have come up with stringent rules of entry as well as ways of sanitation.

Operation clean

It all started even before the first Covid-19 positive case was detected in Bengal. On March 15, Greenwood Sonata in Action Area 2D behind City Centre 2, shut all common areas like its swimming pool, children’s room, lounge and gym. A five litre jar of sanitiser was procured and orders placed for more as also for masks for all the security personnel. At Uniworld City, both clubs were shut the same day. So were all recreational facilities like library, swimming pool and gym. Daily helps coming in were asked at the gate to sanitise their hands.

Greenwood Park in Action Area 1 had more on their plate than their own complex — a community market and the ATM inside it. “We held an emergency meeting in the evening on March 14. By March 16, wash basins were installed at both our gates as well as at The gate of Eden Shop, which is under our management. Since the market and the ATM cater to the entire neighbourhood, long queues formed at the entry for hand washing. So we had to install a second basin there. Hourly disinfection of the elevators too started at the same time,” Biplab Basu, secretary, Greenwood Park, said.

Committee members at Sunrise Point engaged in hurried discussions to put a regimen in place. “We have managed to procure 10 bottles of industrial grade sanitiser with 99.9% alcohol after checking in about 20 places,” said Parminder Rana, president, Sunrise Point Apartment Owners Association. “The scarcity was so much that we saw two women buying aftershave lotions at one shop, possibly to use as disinfectant.” The swimming pool which was supposed to reopen on March 15 will stay dry indefinitely.

A gloved and masked security guard at the entrance to Greenwood Park. Sudeshna Banerjee

Lunch being prepared for about 125 in-house staff members at Uniworld City. Sudeshna Banerjee