‘No mask no fuel’ rule returns to Bhubaneswar as BMC tightens curbs to check Covid spike

With Khordha continuing to remain as the COVID hotspot for the last few days, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has brought back the ‘No mask no fuel’ mandate for vehicle owners under its jurisdiction.

The BMC has ordered the fuel refilling stations to not sell fuel to those customers who turn up without wearing a face mask/face cover appropriately. The fuel station owners are also directed to put proper signage in the appropriate place for information of all.

The BMC order said, “There has been a sudden increase in the number of newly detected COVID-19 positive cases within BMC area in the last fortnight which requires caution among the citizens of BMC. Proper wearing of face mask/face cover is a key method to check the spread of COVID virus.”

Apart from the gas stations, the BMC also issued an advisory for other traders and office goers in the city.

1. All citizens residing within BMC area as well as outside citizens coming to BMC area or present in BMC area are requested to wear face mask/face cover appropriately while in public places.

2. Appropriate use of face mask/face cover means that, it should cover the mouth and nose properly.

3. The owners of business establishments like shopping malls/shops/store owners shall not allow any staff or customers without face mask/face cover inside their premises. They shall also put appropriate signage "NO MASK NO ENTRY / NO MASK NO GOODS" at the entry point of their premises for information of all concerned.

4. The CEO/Managers/Head of the offices of Govt as well as Private offices shall ensure that their employees are wearing face masks/face covers at all times while in their offices premises except when they are taking tiffin/lunches during lunch time.

5. The above advisory is in addition to adherence of other COVID appropriate behaviour like maintenance of social distancing, maintaining hand hygiene, adopting appropriate coughing/sneezing practice and no spitting in public places etc.

Any violations on the above-mentioned aspect will attract penal provisions of the Odisha COVID-19 Regulations and amendments made time to time, the order said.