Team Herald
PONDA: The government has been constantly appealing to the public to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the Coronovirus. But the people made a mockery of the appeal by nearly falling over each other to collect two kilos of rice and half-a-kilo of pulse distributed free at Bethora Panchayat, on Sunday.
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It is learnt that these items were distributed by the government through the office of Ponda Deputy Collector at Bethora Panchayat, where thousands of people, mostly migrants, thronged the place to collect the same.
Bethora falls under the Shiroda Assembly constituency, whose MLA’s visit during the distribution of the free items raised eyebrows of rival politicians.
MGP leader Ketan Bhatikar, who visited Bethora panchayat, expressed concerned over the gathering of people without maintaining social distancing.
Questioning the presence of MLA Shubash Shirodkar at the place, Bhatikar said, “This is not the time to politicise the issue.”
He also criticised the police for not enforcing social distancing. “Police issue only challans to bike riders,” he quipped.
When contacted over the rush, Ponda Deputy Collector Kedar Naik said that he had invited only around 200 needy people for collecting free ration; but suddenly there was rush of crowd.
“However, within ten minutes police controlled people and enforced social distancing. Food grains were distributed to needy people,” he said.
