PONDA: Tension prevailed at Veling-Priol over the government proposed COVID Care Centre in the heart of village, at village panchayat hall, on Monday.
The locals coming under the jurisdiction of Veling-Priol-Cunkoliem Panchayat opposed the panchayat’s decision to set up a COVID Care Centre in the panchayat hall, located at the market place.
The villagers and shop owners said, “They are not against COVID Care Centre but it should not be established in the market place where several people visit for shopping.”
The villagers demanded to shift it to a safer place or nearby Farmagudi COVID Care Centre and pointed out that one school which is at an isolated place in the village could be used for setting up the centre.
However, Sarpanch Pandurang Gaude and panch Damodar Naik informed that the panchayat is firm on its decision to allow the hall for the treatment of mild patients and the decision is taken in the interest of the locals following nine patients detected for COVID infection in the panchayat area.”
“The decision is taken after consulting a doctor involved in treating COVID patients and in the interest of villagers and so the locals should not be worried,” they said.
They pacified the villagers stating that this would not be major COVID Care Centre but only for treating patients with mild symptoms and that too only from the village.
“When COVID patient is detected positive in the panchayat area it may cause delay to carry them to COVID Hospital. Till then they will be quarantined in the hall.”
Meanwhile, the vendors and villagers have called for an urgent meeting with the panchayat body on July 21, at 4 pm.
Following the panchayat decision on Sunday, the vendors operating in the market along with some locals on Monday protested in front of the panchayat premises opposing to the decision to allow panchayat hall for the treatment of COVID patients fearing that it may lead to spread of coronavirus in their Village.
“The panchayat body did not take us into confidence while taking the decision,” the irked villagers said.
The villagers argued that the relatives of COVID patients who would visit them to provide food may get infected and are likely to spread it in the village.”
