Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: The sudden announcement by the Chief Minister of Goa of the clamping of curfew in the state eleven days ago had caught the Goans off guard as many had planned to repair their houses during that time.
And after the cyclone Tauktae hit Goa on Saturday affecting most of the houses in Goa the distressed house owners were seen rushing towards the towns to find out which shop selling hardware items are open, ultimately returning home as most of these shops were closed due to the restrictions in place.
Some people ended up buying whatever they found may be of use, but there were no labourers and the incessant rains made it more difficult many complained across South Goa.
There were people complaining from all over, that their roofs have blown off partially or fully and the items like roofing sheets, plastic and nails amongst other things were not available as all these shops dealing in these items were closed in view of the lockdown restrictions.
Sensing a good opportunity amongst the ongoing restrictions, a few enterprising migrants started selling plastic sheets by the roadsides in various towns of Goa and by Wednesday all of them made a brisk sale.
These migrants were seen selling plastic sheets of various sizes and thickness at Char Rasta in Canacona, opposite KTC bus stand at Cuncolim, some places in the town of Margao, Quepem and Curchorem.
As the urge to buy plastic covering material was so huge that the appropriate Covid behaviour was thrown to winds, many concerned locals complained.
There were also complains of these fly by night vendors overcharging the gullible customers as people were more interested in buying than knowing the rate informed a buyer who said he paid six thousand for a fifty metre roll.
“The seller told me in hindi that the plastic is 50 GSM (grams per square meter) but when I opened the roll after reaching home, I found a tag from the manufacturer which had 40 GSM written on it” he complained.
Laxman Gaonkar from Balli said that some of his Mangalore tiles have blown away by the cyclonic winds on Sunday and he needs both tiles and nails to fix the tiles and some rafters back, his said he searched in vain for a shop where he can buy those things and he didn’t find any shop open.
“Finally I tracked a shop with half shutter open near Margao municipal building and I stood in a queue but by the time my turn came the owner pulled down the shutter saying its 1.00pm and closing time, understand the pain and agony we are going through” he said.
“I am caught between a devil and deep sea, with more rains predicted for next few days it is going to be a hell for me as rain water directly enters my house, we have shifted TV, fridge and other equipments to a safer room and since my walls are made of earth they might collapse” he informed.
On one side we are fighting with Covid-19 and on the other side the nature has played a cruel joke on most poor people like him he added.
CYCLONE in LOCKDOWN
• And after the cyclone Tauktae hit Goa on Saturday affecting most of the houses in Goa the distressed house owners were seen rushing towards the towns to find out which shop selling hardware items are open, ultimately returning home as most of these shops were closed due to the restrictions in place.
• There were people complaining from all over, that their roofs have blown off partially or fully and the items like roofing sheets, plastic and nails amongst other things were not available as all these shops dealing in these items were closed in view of the lockdown restrictions.
• These migrants were seen selling plastic sheets of various sizes and thickness at Char Rasta in Canacona, opposite KTC bus stand at Cuncolim, some places in the town of Margao, Quepem and Curchorem.
