Authorities have barred entry of both domestic and foreign
tourists to the Darjeeling hills from March 19 to April 15 because of
Covid-19, but asked hotels not to chase away visitors who have already
arrived.
The decision on the
tourist bar was taken at a meeting convened by the Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration with various stakeholders like tour
operators, transporters and educational institutions here on Wednesday.
Darjeeling district magistrate Deepap Priya P. was also present at the
meeting. “Let us not entertain any new tourists from tomorrow
(Thursday). We request taxi drivers not to carry any tourists and no
hotel should take bookings from tomorrow,” GTA head Anit Thapa said
after the meeting.
“However, let us not chase away tourists who
are already in town. Let them leave as scheduled as we need to maintain
our tourist-friendly brand, too,” he added.
Most hotel owners said almost all tourists were scheduled to leave by Friday.
The GTA also asked the hotels to refund entire amounts upon cancellation of bookings.
Many
homestays had stopped taking bookings since Tuesday. “We were feeling
insecure at villages as people started accusing us of bringing
truckloads of coronavirus,” said a homestay owner.
The GTA
directed community centres like halls and auditoriums to cancel all
bookings till April 15. Parents have been advised not to send their
wards to crowded areas. “Schools are closed but many students seem to be
in a vacation mood and are moving in crowded areas. Parents should
ensure their social distancing,” said Thapa.
DM Priya P. also
issued a notice that said “clubs, or, institutions within the district
are to refrain from holding any event which requires large gathering of
people and maintain “social distancing..”.
A participant said at
the meeting that educational institutions across the country were closed
and students were returning home from Covid-19-hit areas without proper
screening.
Police have decided to spray bleaching power in
Darjeeling at 9am on Thursday. The GTA will mobilise its workforce to
boost health screening.
https://www.telegraphindia.com
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