South Goa way ahead of North in lockdown violations, fines

PANJIM: Ever since the lockdown was announced by the State and the Centre since March 22, 2020 in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic; the district of South Goa has reported more than double the violations and also contributed almost three times more to the State’s kitty in form of fines, as compared to the figures of North Goa District

From the time the lockdown began, the State police have been strictly implementing the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). For instance, people not wearing masks and spitting in public are fined Rs 100 each.

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Besides that, under section 144, several cases have been booked for assembly of more than four persons at one place.

As per the statistics of the State Executive committee (SEC) (up to May 27, 2020), the State has reported 56,153 violations, out of which 16,271 are in the North Goa, and 39,882 in the South Goa.

Amongst these 29,079 were MVA violation challans, 8,064 were public spitting cases and 18,232 were challans for not wearing masks.

A total of 1,415 persons were arrested for violation of lockdown, with 576 reported in North Goa and 839 in South.

486 vehicles have been seized so far in the State – 208 in North district and 278 in South.

In terms of FIRs, South and North are almost the same as North Goa registered 383 while South Goa had 395.

However, when it comes to total fines imposed on violated – South Goa is far ahead of North Goa.

While the North district has collected fines of Rs 16,90,300 for not wearing masks and spitting in public, the South district has a collection of whopping Rs 46,30,100, and together they bring in a combined total of a whopping Rs 63,20,400.

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Kumar said that the fines have been imposed in a bid to maintain strict lockdown.

“The MHA order says masks are must in public places besides public spitting is a strict ‘no’, as it can spread COVID-19,” he said.

The SEC adds that strict enforcement of lockdown is being enforced with simultaneous persuasion by patrolling staff to comply with conditions of lockdown.

It says patrolling has been intensified throughout Goa and nakabandis have been deployed at all exit points.

“Traffic staff has been deployed along with district police at nakabandis. Some of the measures SEC has taken for strict implementation of the lockdown include, meetings held with religious heads; appeals via video clips to citizens and religious places against gatherings; and appeals on social media through appropriate platforms,” it says.

SEC report (as on May 27, 2020)