FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Residents of Mangor Hill will have to bear with the restrictions for a few more days as the government on Monday decided that the containment zone would continue for another 15 days.
This was decided at a high-level meeting called by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant that was attended by Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, MLAs Alina Saldanha and Carlos Almeida and MMC councillors.
Speaking to the media, after the meeting, Sawant said the containment zone will continue for another 15 days.
“The government cannot relax containment zone for now, as positive cases are still being reported everyday. The government will make all efforts to provide free ration to every family,” he said.
He said the administration will grant permissions for essential shops like groceries and vegetable stalls in the containment areas to open from Tuesday.
He added that while there is no decision on lifting curbs in Mangor Hill people who want to move out can do so after testing. “Those who want to go out for work can get tested and move out of the zone but will not be allowed to go there again, they will have to make their staying arrangements elsewhere,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that Goa will begin anti-body tests soon and it will begin from Mangor Hill area.
Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, who had demanded a complete lockdown in Vasco initially, said that the government is seriously looking into the problems faced by the residents of the containment zone.
“The containment zone can be de-sealed only 28 days after the last reported case. In Mangor Hill cases keep on increasing,” he said. Almeida said the Chief Minister had assured at the meeting that mass testing will be carried out in the next few days.
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha too seemed happy with the meeting and urged the people from containment zones not to sneak out from hidden roads. “The government will make all arrangement. I will also hold meeting with officers and find out why there is shortage of essential supplies,” she said.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho said he will conduct a meeting in his office to follow up on the arrangements and urged people to have faith in the administration.
