MARGAO
Delay in commissioning of the two Covid care centres in the Margao Municipal area has brought the BJP and the two Opposition MLAs, Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai face to face.
Margao-based BJP Leader Naveen Raikar questioned the delay in putting the two Covid care centres in place when both Kamat and Sardesai had announced plans to set up the centres at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda and Manohar Parrikar stadium, Navelim.
Both Kamat and Sardesai have shot back at the BJP leader saying that, while the duo has mobilized the resources, including beds and oxygen concentrators etc, the commissioning is held up since the BJP-government had till date not sanctioned the health care workers to man the centres.
Incidentally, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes was firm in saying the two Covid care centres will start functioning only if the government sanctioned doctors and nurses for the centres.
Naveen Raikar took potshots at the Margao and Fatorda MLA for announcing the two Covid care centres at Margao and Fatorda. “The administration had handed over the Nehru stadium and the Parrikar stadium to the Margao Municipality to set up the Covid care centres. Even the beds have been donated by people, but the two centres have still not started the operations”, he said.
“People of Margao and Fatorda are not fools. The Chief Minister has extended all cooperation to start the centres or take over the existing centres. These people should stop playing politics by creating fear in the minds of the people on Covid”, Naveen added.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat pointed out that he and his Fatorda counterpart has extended full support to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer to set up the Covid care centres. “But, the centres have not started for want of doctors and nurses and MTS. Leave alone the covid care centres, the BJP workers should get MTS staff for the South Goa district hospital”, Kamat said, as he questioned who will take the responsibility of the patients housed in the Covid care centres in the absence of health care workers.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai echoed similar sentiments. He said the BJP should stop playing politics over the Covid care centres. “We have got people to provide the logistics for the Covid care centres after the MMC Chief Officer made an appeal to the people for support. The Covid care centres will take shape no sooner the government deputes the doctors and staff”, Sardesai said.
Meanwhile, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo was categorical in saying the two Covid care centres will start functioning only after the government deputes the health care workers. “We have mobilized the logistics for the two centres, but the functioning will start only after the doctors and nurses take charge of the centres”, Agnelo added.
