Warangal: Safety norms go for a toss

Warangal: Physical distancing norms to check the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) are going for a toss ever since the government has lifted lockdown norms albeit partially to put economic activity back on track. The registration and stamps department is one of those key sectors on which the government's revenues depend upon substantially.

Notwithstanding the claims of the authorities that they have been following the physical distancing norm strictly which is key in containing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the true picture is something different at the registrar offices.

Being the second largest city in Telangana and many developmental activities funded by the Centre and the State in progress, Warangal is one of the hotspots that generate revenue for the government through registration and stamps department.

There are three Sub-Registrar offices in Warangal Urban District and they used to witness anywhere between 100 and 150 registrations per day generating revenue of around Rs 40 lakh. Since the three offices resumed the services recently, registrations anywhere round 70 are taking place, generating revenue of around Rs 25 lakh per day, according to official sources.

When The Hans India visited the Registrar Office at Hanamkonda on Thursday, the people were seen all over like any other day before the lockdown was enforced. With the district registrar offices back to business after a long layoff due to lockdown, people who have been waiting to get their work done for a long appeared irresistible to complete it. They cared little to maintain physical distancing. The only solace is that majority of them were seen wearing face masks.

Although the office is made sanitiser available, it looked like a process rather than a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19. Lack of space is also one of the reasons for the people to skip the physical distancing norm, the people who stood in the queue said. Some people were seen standing in the shade of trees as there was no proper facility at the office.

Urban District Registration Office Sub-Registrar P Ramu Murthy said: "All the precautions are being taken as per the government's instructions. We also urge people to comply with the safety norms."