Team Herald
panjim: Even as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant questioned the legality of the lockdowns that have recently been announced by village panchayats, another panchayat – Chimbel has announced an 8-day lockdown from June 17 to June 23, following the detection of COVID-19 cases in the village.
Chimbel Sarpanch Chandrakant Kunkolkar along with St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes addressed a press conference where they announced this decision.
He said that all shops, except pharmacies, will be closed and that the sale of milk will be allowed for few hours in the morning.
“Two days have been given for people to make necessary provisions, said Fernandes.
Asked about the legality of lockdown, the MLA said that people cannot be stopped from going for a voluntary lockdown, even though the CM had spoken against such lockdowns.
“The decision for the lockdown by the Chimbel Panchayat has been taken under Section 60 (2) of the Goa Panchyat Raj Act 1994. The panchayat may also make provision for carrying out within the oanchayat area, any other work or measure which is likely to promote the health, safety, education, comfort, convenience or special or economic well-being of the inhabitants of the panchayat area, states section 60(2) of GPR Act,” he replied.

