Bhubaneswar: With the Odisha government laying utmost emphasis on social distancing to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, all establishments and places of public gathering are being ordered to shut down. From schools to shopping malls, Odisha government has ordered full/partial shut-down and in some cases it has significantly regulated the movement and congregation of public in such places. However in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack some concerns were raised by tenants who alleged that they are being asked by their landlords to vacate the houses. After such reports surfaced, Police Commissioner of the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, Sudhanshu Sarangi clarified that no such direction has been given either by the Odisha government or police asking house owners to vacate the tenants to prevent COVID-19 outbreak.
“The individual has admitted his mistake. We are looking into possible legal action,” tweeted Sarangi responding to a person who had flagged the matter on social media.
Such concerns were reported by some students staying on rent in Acharya Vihar area who alleged that their house owners have asked them to vacate their premises by producing a letter claiming that the directives have purportedly been issued by the government and the Police Commissioner has been strictly instructed to implement the same.
Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation today informed that three hotels in the city have been declared as quarantine facilities where people intending to stay on self quarantine can avail the services on a pay and use basis.
Citing that large number of quarantine facilities are needed to contain the spread of COVID19 for which most government buildings as per the suitability have already been designated as quarantine facilities, the civic body said that Ginger Hotel in Jaydev Vihar, Empires Hotel in Saheed Nagar and Hotel Kalinga Ashok in Kalpana Square can be used by people for self-quarantine by paying a sum of Rs 2,500 + taxes per day.