Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Fearing spread of COVID-19, several village panchayats and municipalities have decided to remain under lockdown for the next 8 days as a precaution.
With the state government refusing to go under complete lockdown to contain spread of virus, over 20 panchayat including municipalities have so far have announced Lockdowns and they feel that have been left to fend for themselves.
However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appealed villages and Municipal areas not to go for individual lockdown as it will cause panic and get people to move out, which will be counterproductive.
The Chief Minister statement comes at a time when his own Municipal area Sankhalim have announced lockdown as a precautionary measure.
Sawant also warned panchayats against unnecessarily restricting movement of individuals and not allowing people to move out to join their official duties.
Alleging that some MLAs are also involved in doing this, he pointed out that many of people who are not allowed to move out, might be working in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other essential services.
As per information so far, Sankhali, Siolim, Aldona, Bogmalo, Saligao, Penha de Franca, Salvador do Mundo, Reis Magos Assagao, Assonona, Mandrem, Bicholim, Verla-Canca, Parra, Verna, Varca, Raia, Curtorim, Nagoa, Calangute, Candolim, Nagoa, Camurlim, Assolna, Carmona, Velsao, Veling-Priol, Bastora, Moira, Sancoale, Chicalim, Cortalim and Chinchinim, Cuncolim Municipality, Margao Municipality, CCP, Curchorem municipality have gone for complete lockdown. Only essential services have been allowed to remain open till 12 noon.
Opposition MLA too have urged Chief Minister Sawant to impose a wider lockdown and bring strict measures in place to contain the spread of virus.
According to the lockdown order, all shopkeepers selling essential commodity, vegetable and fruit vendors operating with the jurisdiction limits have been allowed to operate strictly from 6 am to 12 noon.
It seems that the villagers from even the remotest parts of the state have taken the lockdown more seriously than their urban counterparts.
These villages have also imposed curbs on people moving in large groups, and asked residents to avoid crowding in marketplaces and maintain social distancing at all times.
The second wave of COVID 19 has hit almost every corner of the State, with the tiny State reporting unprecedented rise in daily infections. Until Monday, the total active cases stood at 25,839.
What is more worrying is the daily mortality count. Last few days, State has reported over 30 deaths daily, on an average. So far, 1320 people have lost their lives due to the deadly virus.
Comment