Winter warmth: LMC to send out night patrol cars to round up homeless

District magistrate Surya Pal Gangwar informed that efforts were being made to ensure consistent provision of shelter, beds, food, and warm water to the homeless and more arrangements would be added as and when the need arose.

Civic officials and district magistrate Surya Pal Gangwar on Sunday listed the efforts being made to provide warmth and comfort to the homeless and the destitute in the city on cold winter nights.

The conference being addressed by municipal commissioner Inderjit Singh, mayor of Lucknow Sanyukta Bhatia, and district magistrate Surya Pal Gangwar in Lucknow on Sunday. (HT PHOTO)

Addressing a press conference at which Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia and municipal commissioner Inderjit Singh were also present, the district magistrate informed that efforts were being made to ensure consistent provision of shelter, beds, food, and warm water to the homeless and more arrangements would be added as and when the need arose. Night patrol cars from Nagar Nigam zonal offices would be sent out to round up destitute sleeping on the streets and bring them to the closest shelter homes, for which the authorities would also enlist police cooperation.

For the purpose of running the community kitchen, the LMC has also appealed to the public, religious organisations and business circles to help with rations and other donations.

The municipal commissioner said clothes banks had been set up at all Nagar Nigam zonal offices where people could drop donated items. Moreover, Bhatia mentioned that temporary night shelters would be set up near highways and other areas where most homeless people gathered at night, so as to make the amenities more accessible to them.

A helpline number (0522-4523000) has also been issued which will be run by the district authorities, where people trying to locate a shelter home or those wanting to report the location of a destitute person to the nearest shelter home can call for the required information. Additional district magistrate, finance and revenue, additional municipal commissioner, representatives of self-help organisations, zonal officers and office-bearers of various business boards were also present at this conference.