Team Herald
PANJIM: With preparations to bring back the stranded seafarers in the last phase, the State government has identified nearly 20,000 rooms to quarantine the seafarers, after they are brought back to Goa.
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Addressing media persons on Sunday, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that Union Ministry for Home Affairs and Union Ministry for External Affairs is likely to issue order on Monday with regards to rescue of stranded seafarers, in phased manner.
Sawant said that there are nearly 7000-8000 Goan seafarers stranded on various cruise ships, globally. “We have identified nearly 20,000 rooms to provide quarantine facilities to the seafarers on their return to Goa,” he said adding that once the Central government issues the order for their evacuation, the State will also issue an order to take over these rooms.
Earlier, the chief minister had informed that the seafarers would be released in phased manner: in the first phase, seamen on ships docked at the Indian ports to disembark and sign off; in the second phase, those on ships in deep sea will be allowed to return by sea.
“And in the final stage, we will permit those who have disembarked from their ships and signed off in a foreign country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Executive Committee had directed the Collectors to start the inspection of hotels, which were earlier identified by the tourism department and identify availability of similar rooms with religious organisations such as churches, temples, etc, to assess their number and suitability to be used as paid quarantine facilities for the seafarers.
The education secretary was also asked to prepare a list of suitable hostel facilities available with educational institutions in Goa, which can be used as quarantine facility.
