PANAJI
As Goa entered the second of its 4-day lockdown ostensibly to "break the chain of Covid-19 transmission" amid the ferocious current second wave of the deadly virus, reports of non-essential businesses like wine stores staying open and SUVs roving on beaches drew flak for the Pramod Sawant-led government on Saturday.
Late on Friday evening, the Pernem police seized a Toyota Prado SUV and booked Delhi resident Ashok Wadia, who was reportedly driving it on the Morjim beach.
Wadia was arrested and the FIR registered against him has slapped charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for disobeying orders of public servant (188), negligence (269), rash driving (279) and endangering life (336).
The state government meanwhile has drawn flak not just from the Opposition but also from a member of the Cabinet for its seriousness or lack of it, in achieving the purpose of the lockdown when restaurants and markets are permitted to stay open at half its carrying capacity.
Shops, private factories, establishments are mostly functioning although crowds on roads and other public places are much thinner than usual.
Lobo, known to be outspoken but also the target of widespread criticism for his consistent stance in the past to keep tourism activity functioning uninterrupted, said the North Goa collector must crack the whip and issue stringent and clear instructions under CrPC's section 144.
Meanwhile, much as the Sawant government dithered and delayed the decision on going in for the lockdown even as the ferocious second wave hit the State hard, there are no signs of the administration considering tweaking its decision to make the shutdown more stringent and prolong beyond Monday morning, despite fervent pleas of the State's medical fraternity.
