Team Herald
Ponda: Concerns have been raised after COVID guidelines such as wearing masks and social distancing norms were thrown to the wind by those visiting the Ponda market and vendors too.
This has been the situation since the shopping spree for Diwali and intervening festivals began.
There have also been concerns raised about migrant vendors such as those from Karnataka taking the situation too lightly given that the government is not conducting tests on those entering Goan borders.
Locals criticised the inaction of the Ponda police in this regard and pointed out that a few months earlier, the cops were ensuring that people in the market were following the guidelines.
Meanwhile in Ponda taluka, many Temples Committees have started the celebrations of annual Zatras with social distancing norms. They are also only performing the religious rituals.
It may be recalled that earlier, when tourism activities resumed in the State, temples too were kept open for tourists.
However, after priests from two temples in Ponda taluka were tested positive, the temples had issued a temporary lockdown for tourists.
The news of the priests getting COVID has also affected the attendance of students of those higher secondary schools that are situated near the temples.
