Will emulate Chennai model in Coimbatore to defeat Covid: Corporation chief

COIMBATORE: Handling the second Covid-19 wave and the predicted third wave will be top priorities, said new city corporation commissioner Raja Gopal Sunkara, who assumed office on Monday.
The IAS officer, who served as additional collector in Cuddalore during the first wave and regional deputy commissioner, south, of Chennai corporation during the second wave, said the experience will come in handy while containing virus spread in Coimbatore.“We are seeing around 500 cases daily from corporation limits and many cases from rural areas. Thus, handling Covid-19 is my first priority. While handling the second wave, preparations for the third wave will start soon,” he said.
The Friends of Covid Persons Under Surveillance (Focus) system implemented in Chennai corporation, where a volunteer is allotted to people under quarantine, will be implemented in Coimbatore also, Gopal said. “The volunteer will handle all requirements of families, so that they don’t have to step out of houses. I will study containment zone prerequisites and systems to take a call.”
He will evaluate the effectiveness of zonal enforcement teams to bring shops that continue to function without permission to task, the official said. “I will also strive to strengthen the civic body’s public service delivery system and public grievance redressal system. Public service delivery includes cleanliness, streetlights, roads and availing birth and death certificates. I remember how much I struggled to get my father’s death certificate, and don’t want others to go through the same hassle.”
“For public grievance redressal, the Chennai corporation has a robust system including a Facebook page, Twitter account and helpline numbers. Besides tagging us on Facebook, Twitter and calling helplines, people can meet me directly to submit complaints,” the commissioner added.