Iconic Eden Gardens to be converted for makeshift quarantine centres

Kolkata: The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has decided to allow Kolkata Police to use parts of its iconic Eden Gardens for making makeshift quarantine centres amidst reports of increasing coronavirus affecting the health across the state.

“It is our duty to help and support the administration in this hour of crisis,” CAB president Avishek Dalmiya said in a statement after the city police had requested the Bengal cricket governing body to give parts of stadium to quarantine centres of its forces.

“The quarantine facility would be used for Police personnel who are covid warriors. The under galleries which would be used at E, F, G, H and J Blocks would be properly segregated and secured from the balance areas. The arrangement agreed between Kolkata Police and CAB would ensure that areas used for cricket and administrative Activities remain unaffected,” Mr Dalmiya elaborated.

Kolkata Police has requested the CAB to make use of under galleries for makeshift quarantine facility for Police personnel on urgent basis.

There was an emergent meeting on Friday at Lal Bazaar with CAB officials and thereafter a joint inspection was undertaken at the Eden Gardens.

Among the CAB office bearers, Avishek Dalmiya and Snehasish Ganguly (Secretary, CAB) were present during the inspection.

It has been decided that under galleries of E, F, G and H blocks would be used to set up such facilities. In case, more space is required, then J block might also be used. Such areas would be thoroughly segregated as a safety measure.

Since the majority administrative functioning of the CAB happens at Club House, adjacent blocks (B, C, D, K and L) would not be used for it, allowing the Association to use them for conducting its activities and/or for its administrative works.

The groundsmen and other staff would be shifted to the dormitories and other safer spaces in B, C, K and L blocks inside the stadium.

As COVID-19 is spreading fast despite a fresh lockdown imposed from July 9, 26 people have died in past 24 hours up to 9 am on Friday and about 1198 new positive were reported. So far 880 people have died from the pandemic. (UNI)