VASCO
Four panchayats in Mormugao taluka have decided to enforce a lockdown in view of a sharp rise in Covid cases in the taluka.
While the Chicalim, Sancoale and Bogmalo panchayats have declared a seven-day lockdown, the Cansaulim Panchayat has announced a six-day lockdowm and the Velsao panchayat has decided on a 10-day lockdown.
CHICALIM
The Chicalim Panchayat on Tuesday announced a 7-day lockdown from Wednesday to May 12, with an extension being considered if the situation is still not brought under control.
"As of now, the situation is bad and in such a scenario, it is necessary that the panchayat jurisdiction goes in for a voluntary lockdown to prevent the spread of cases,” Chicalim Sarpanch Seby Pereira told reporters.
“We have decided unanimously to go for a lockdown from May 5 to May 12 and we may extend the period if the situation is still not under control.”
“We have allowed grocery shops from 7 am to 7 pm, while vegetables and fruits will be permitted from 7 am to 2 pm and restaurants will be permitted only for takeaway service. All gaddas and carts will be closed and violators will face revocation of trade license.”
“Our panchayat office will have minimum staff only for correspondence but all panchayat members will be available and our social work will continue," said Pereira.
SANCOALE
Sancoale panchayat on Tuesday decided to have a seven-day lockdown from Wednesday to May 12.
"Most panchayats are going for a full and partial lockdown and we have the highest positive cases in Sancoale and we decided to have a lockdown following demands from people,” said Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar.
“We will allow shops to be open only from 7 am to 10 am and our panchayat staff will work from 10 am to 12 noon with 50% staff. We will also send our resolution to the police to strictly enforce our lockdown and only this lockdown can help break the chain," said Borkar.
Borkar questioned the Director of Panchayats (DoP) for earlier stating that panchayats did not have the right to enforce a lockdown.
"The DoP may not know the ground reality of a village by sitting in the office at Panaji. The panchayat is taking a call for the benefit of villagers and authorities should not intervene in this matter,” Borkar added.
VELSAO
The Velsao Panchayat on Tuesday announced a 10-day lockdown from May 5 to May 15.
Velsao Sarpanch Henriques D’Mello said all restaurants, hotels, eateries, bars and coffee shops will operate for takeaway only and all non-essential shops will be requested to shut down.
"All vegetable/fruit shops and grocery shops will be open from 6 am to 1 pm and unnecessary movement will be strictly restricted," said D’Mello.
BOGMALO
The Bogmalo Panchayat has decided to observe a seven-day lockdown from May 5 to May 12.
"It is unanimously decided by the panchayat to have a lockdown in the village to stop the spread of Covid 19. Only essential services will remain open in the panchayat jurisdiction with restricted timing and by following all SOPs,” said Bogmalo Sarpanch Lorena Cunha, who appealed to people not to move out of the houses unnecessarily during the lockdown period.
"Grocery shops, stores, vegetable and fruit stores will be operational from 7 am to 12 noon. Restaurants with takeaway shall be operational from 7 am to 7 pm, while banks and other offices can maintain their routine timings.”
“Bars and wine shops will remain closed till the lockdown period is in force. Unnecessary movement after 12 noon will be strictly restricted. Violation may result in severe action and any store found disobeying instructions may result in revocation of trade license," said Cunha.
CANSAULIM
The Cansaulim panchayat on Tuesday announced a six-days lockdown from May 6 to May 12. Sarpanch Jose Maria Furtado told reporters that people had been requesting a lockdown and the panchayat had a discussion in the matter, before deciding on the six-day lockdown.
“We will have stores open from 6 am to 11.30 am and we will make announcements in our village to request people to cooperate with the lockdown and stay home," said Furtado.
Deputy Sarpanch Ratnadeep Naik appealed to the people not to rush to grocery shops during the lockdown.
"All essential shops will remain open daily from 6 am to 11.30 am and there is no need to rush to the shops,” said Naik.
