SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
VASCO: A day ago, a video showing some women getting down from a private bus and entering the Zuarinagar shanties went viral on social media platforms raising concerns amongst the public. Locals found it fishy to see the people entering and exiting the Zuarinagar area despite the fact that some parts of the three wards have been declared as a containment zone a week ago after several CoVID positive cases were detected.
It may be recalled that on Sunday, some locals had protested on Sunday to know the current status and the logistical provisions made at the Zuarinagar containment zone. They had complained about the irregular supply of grocery items, and absence of mass testing of the people etc.
These people from the containment zone had raised questions about how they will survive and about them losing jobs because they are restricted to the containment zone.
They had also demanded that mass testing be carried out immediately on a larger scale. They also demanded that that those people who had tested COVID negative, be released from the containment zone, so that they can seek employment and earn their living.
Considering all these issues, a joint meeting was convened by the Cortalim MLA Alina Saldhana, in which Deputy Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) Crime branch and others were a part of.
Post the meeting; Saldanha informed the media that there was an issue related to the "entry and exit" points in the Zuarinagar containment zone, as people from there were moving out despite the area being sealed. She emphasized that this cannot be allowed.
At the meeting, SP Pankaj Kumar Singh, requested panch members from Zuarinagar to identify the entry and exit points from the Zuarinagar containment zone and give the details to him so that preventive measures can be taken to bar people from crossing over the containment zone.
Later, while speaking to mediapersons, Singh said that police may have kept proper arrangements in place such as watch posts, barricades at several spots, they can make the place more secure by incorporating the suggestions given to them. He added that once the local panchs give them the information they have sought for, the local police will ensure that the containment zone is sealed in a more effective manner.
