PANJIM: Clarifying that messages circulating on Friday that the government had taken a decision to extend the lockdown are false, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the government will be taking a decision on Saturday or on Sunday on extending the curfew.
“There is a chance that the curfew will be increased looking at the prevailing COVID situation,” Sawant said while addressing the media late Friday evening. He was responding to queries given that the present curfew ends on May 31.
Earlier on Friday morning, Sawant had also acknowledged that due to the curfew, the daily COVID positivity rate has dropped.
Sawant was also asked to comment on the holding of Class XII Goa Board Exams. “The Central government has not yet taken a decision. Once they do we will wait for communication from them,” Sawant said. He added that they are waiting to see what happens to the CBSE exams.
Sawant was also asked to comment on the suggestion made by his cabinet minister Mauvin Godinho who had called for diverting Rs 100 crore of the Rs 300 crore 60th Liberation Year grant from the Centre for providing compensation to persons who had died from COVID in Goa. Sawant said that a decision in this regard has not yet been taken and if one is taken, the government will make an announcement.
On Friday, Sawant had a meeting with the Agriculture Department regarding the handling of bandharas in the fields.
He said that to stop the saline water from entering the fields from breaches on existing notified bandharas, the Agriculture Minister will soon be issuing a notice about the government’s decision.
He said that currently repairs and maintenance of such bandharas are on a 50/50 basis but now it will be switched to a 90/10 basis in the interest of the farmers.
