Morung Express News
Dimapur/Kohima | May 22
Residents of a locality in Kohima have expressed resentment against the Nagaland state government designating a hotel in their colony as a quarantine centre for returnees. The residents of the colony –New Minister’s Hill – also submitted a representation to the Deputy Commissioner outlining their apprehension on the location of a paid quarantine facility (Hotel Millennium) in a densely populated neighbourhood.
Hotel Millennium was one of 7 hotels requisitioned as paid quarantine centres within the Kohima Municipal area.
A resident told The Morung Express today that the residents went to meet the hotel’s management on May 21 to air their disapproval. However, “We were told that the hotel was also helpless because it was a government directive.”
Subsequently, they tried to meet the DC but could not meet him and had to eventually submit a representation, the resident said.
Govt cautions against obstruction
Meanwhile, the government cautioned against individuals/organizations from obstructing district authorities from setting up of Quarantine Centres in their Colonies or Wards.
A notification from the Principal Secretary, Home, Abhijit Sinha, dated May 21, cited reports of “unwarranted directives/ statements being issued by certain individuals/organizations obstructing entry of person(s) returning to Nagaland from outside the State into their Wards/ Colonies, even after completion of the stipulated quarantine period, or for home quarantining of the concerned person as per the existing orders and guidelines of the Government.” It also mentioned instances of undue obstructions for setting up of Quarantine Centre(s) by the State Government in the Wards/Colonies.
In this regard, it directed all the Deputy Commissioners “to sensitize the concerned individuals/organizations/colony authorities in their district on such unwarranted actions which infringe on individual rights as well as in violation of Government Orders.” It warned of penal action against any such individuals/organisations under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other actions as deemed appropriate.
