Supplies of essential food items normalised: SEC

Panaji: The member secretary of the state executive committee (SEC) on COVID-19 Sanjay Kumar, on Monday, informed during the committee meeting that the supplies of all essential food items have become normal in the state.

He also mentioned in the meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Parimal Rai that the fourth ‘groceries-on-wheel’ vehicle has started operations.

Two ‘groceries-on-wheel’ vehicles have been placed at the disposal of each Collector. Potato and onion have been added to the items on sale through these groceries-on-wheel vehicles. 

Principal secretary, Science and Technology, Puneet Goel informed that the pharma industry has returned to its near normal scale of operation and that the druggists and chemists have also reported resumption of normal operation.

Inspector General of Police Jaspal Singh said in the SEC meeting that since the lockdown, around 4,000 violators have been booked under various laws,  while two cases have been filed for using provocative language on social media.

The SEC advised IGP to continue strict enforcement of the lockdown measures.

The SEC directed the principal chief engineer of PWD to carry out an extensive drive to ensure that there is no shortage of drinking water and also that overhead tanks do not overflow due to malfunctioning of ball valves.

Also, leakages, if any, in the distribution network be attended to, it was stated.

The SEC authorised secretary (health) to procure ICMR-approved five rapid testing PCR machines and testing kits from M/s Molbio, Verna industrial estate, in relaxation of GFR provisions, an emergency purchase for testing preparedness in view of the epidemic situation and lockdown, and with limited number of reagents/kits available at present for testing in GMC.

These machines will be set up at District Hospital in Mapusa, Sub District Hospital, Ponda, and GMC. These machines will also be used extensively for rapid screening of SARI/ILI cases.