VASCO: Over 200 residents from the Zuarinagar on Tuesday gathered near the barricades demanding that they be freed from the containment zone.
They claimed that the panchas and the local MLA failed to address their issues and added that no testing was done and proper essential items not were provided to them.
The residents threatened that if the local MLA and the panchas fail to meet them and address their grievances then they will not allow the elected representatives to enter the area in future.
Some locals claimed that they have been waiting since 11 am to meet Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha.
They alleged that Saldanha had refused to meet them despite sending requests through their panchas.
Calling upon the authorities to test locals in the area, the residents said if the locals tested positive then they be shifted to the COVID Care Centres and those found negative be released.
A woman from the containment zone said a panch was present with them since morning and had informed them that the local MLA would arrive at around 4 pm, but she failed to turn up.
She asked whether they are supposed to feed on the small amount of groceries supplied to them.
A youth asked how their families are supposed to survive with limited grocery items supplied to them by the local authorities. He demanded that mass COVID testing should be done in Zuarinagar and called upon the authorities to open the containment zone.
Meanwhile, refuting the allegations levelled against her, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha claimed that the Zuarinagar residents are innocent and are instigated by few elements that were instrumental in forcing the people to protest a few days ago in the Zuarinagar containment zone.
The MLA informed that she was supposed to meet people of Zuarinagar on Tuesday evening, but the Mormugao Deputy Collector was busy with his prior work engagements.
The Deputy Collector decided that he along with local MLA will meet people on Wednesday morning at around 11 am, she added.
