Team Herald
MARGAO: Confusion prevailed in Margao as the markets remained closed and contrary to government announcements that provision stores would be open 24×7 only a few stores opened their shutters and that too only in the morning.
To make matters worse many of the stores that were open on Friday did not open shutters on Saturday. There were quite a few people waiting for the Bagayatdar Bazaar at Colmorod to open, but were disappointed and at the Bagayatdar store in Mabai building at Margao people were standing in queue since 8 am for the store to open at 10 am.
All the three main markets in Margao were closed with only vegetables being sold at Gandhi Market. In fact, the rush for vegetables was so much at Gandhi Market that the police had to beat back the crowd at around 7 am and make them keep the social distance in a queue.
Vinod Shirodkar of New Market Vendors Association said they had received instructions from the government not to open any stores and hence all the gates to the New Market were closed with Vinod keeping an eagle eye on the vendors many of whom had gathered outside the locked gates.
GOVT FAILURE: The panchayats in Salcete were quite upset as the Block Development Officer has instructed them to make public announcements that the provision stores will be open for 24 hours. However, most of the shops in the villages remained closed because they did not have any stock to sell.
Chandor Sarpanch Edward D’Silva, who also owns a store in the village, said he and other shop keepers could not open their stores as they did not have any stock and fresh stock is expected only on Monday.
D’Silva along with other sarpanchas were of the opinion that the government should have first put in place a mechanism for home delivery. Apparently, the shops are supposed to be open 24×7 for the volunteers appointed for home delivery and not the public but this message is not clearly delivered to the public.
Carmona Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge accused the government of conveniently passing the buck to the panchayats and said the supply chain has been interrupted without proper planning thereby causing panic amongst the public.
Pointing out that stores prefer to remain shut as there is no stock, he said that people are suffering as essentials like even milk is not available in the morning. “Therefore, supply to the Horticulture Department managed outlets should start immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, former councillor Zarina Shah launched her campaign for municipal election by distributing free rice and sugar to the people in her ward.
