Team Herald
ASSOLNA: In view of the increasing COVID-related fatalities and positive cases in the State, two panchayats in Salcete namely Assolna and Chinchinim have volunteered to extend the lockdown at their marketplace for another eight days.
Assolna Sarpanch Xavier Almeida said, “The Assolna Village Panchayat has taken a decision to further extend the present shutdown in their village by another eight days. Chinchinim Panchayat, too, has taken a similar decision.”
Chinchinim Sarpanch Inacina Rebello said, “The Chinchinim Village Panchayat has decided to permit the shops in the Chinchinim market to keep their premises open only between 6 am and 11 am from May 3 till May 9. No notice has been issued. However, we summoned the Village Development Committee and have taken a decision to urge the shopkeepers to keep their premises closed for a week from May 3 onwards.”
“No decision has been taken on conducting a vaccination camp or sanitisation drives though the Chinchinim Panchayat had assisted the shopkeepers last year in following the COVID Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) such as social distancing, etc. Also, no decision has been taken regarding the annual pre-monsoon task of cleaning drains, trimming tree branches and cutting shrubs, etc,” Rebello added.
Chinchinim Deputy Sarpanch Valentino Barretto said, “In Velim, only few shops providing essential items are open, rest are closed. Taking the shopkeepers into confidence, the Chinchinim Panchayat has taken a decision to go for a voluntary partial lockdown wherein the shops will be open from 6 am to 11 am. It is purely voluntary like how some panchayats in North Goa like Salvador do Mundo have done as the shopkeepers say that they are at risk.”
Meanwhile, Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva said, “The situation is quite bad in Velim even my five-month-old infant daughter has tested COVID positive though shockingly, her mother (my wife), myself and the rest of the family have tested negative. Velim was not given an opportunity to conduct a vaccination camp as Assolna had conducted two vaccination camps. Although, Velim has a Rural Medical Dispensary (RMD) Health Centre, it wasn’t given this opportunity. The Velim Panchayat has already written to the Director of Health Services to conduct a vaccination camp but has received no reply. This only proves political bias as the BJP government especially the local Velim MLA and Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues are playing with the health of the public.”
“Mostly the shops in Velim village are shut with only those providing essential items being kept open. Pre-monsoon works cannot commence due to the present dismal COVID-19 situation in Velim specifically in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) belt who are hit the worst. As we don’t want any outsiders undertaking the pre-monsoon work,” Savio added.
Benaulim Sarpanch Vencillia Fernandes said, “All shops are shut in Benaulim. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Benaulim Panchayat is shut but the annual pre-monsoons work will be undertaken.”
Varca Deputy Sarpanch Tercy D’Costa said, “All shacks, hotels and shops are shut in Varca. Varca Panchayat has not taken any decision to voluntary shutdown the markets in the village but another vaccination camp will be held for the second dose in June as already a vaccination camp was held on April 22, for the first dose.”
“The Varca Panchayat has sanitised the houses of COVID-19 positive patients in the village. The panchayat has already taken a resolution to undertake the annual pre-monsoon tasks of cleaning drains, trimming tree branches, cutting of shrubs, etc,” D’Costa added.
Seraulim Sarpanch Leslie Dourado said, “Only shops selling groceries and pharmacies are open in the village. No vaccination camps or sanitisation drives have been conducted. On Monday, we will decide upon whether to have a lockdown or not. We are waiting for the government’s decision of further extensions to the present three-day lockdown but have not received any information. It will be better if it’s extended for another 10 days to contain the spread of the virus. Regarding annual pre-monsoon exercises of trimming tree branches and cleaning drains, we have already commenced cutting a few trees.”
