Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Wednesday said 3,100 Goans, who are stranded abroad in various countries, have registered with the government to come back to Goa.
Addressing media through a web conference, Sawant welcomed the decision taken by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to bring back Indian nationals stranded in various countries.
“3,100 Goans stranded in various countries have registered with the state government for coming back to Goa. Though in the first slot declared by the Centre, there will be no direct flight to Goa, Goans can come by flights to the nearest state and then travel to Goa by road,” he said.
The Chief Minister appealed to the stranded people to coordinate with the Indian embassies there so that the state government can facilitate their travel to Goa by road.
Sawant also said that over 4,500 Goans, who are stranded in other states have applied online to come back to the state.
“Goans stranded in various states in the country can travel by private transport. The government will also transport Goans outside by buses going in their areas, if available. But 14-day quarantine is a must once they enter Goa,” he said.
He also said though Goa is in green zone for COVID-19, Goans who will be travelling back and those who are in the state should be alert and take precautions, as 22 positive cases have been detected in Davangere, which is around 300 km from Goa, out of the 37 new cases found in Karnataka on Wednesday.
“Though we are in the green zone, we should be alert, as cases in the neighbouring states have been rising,” he said.
On migrant labourers’ issue, the Chief Minister said the state government is trying to convince the migrant workers not to leave Goa. He said as per the MHA guidelines, the government has to send back those migrants staying in Goa. He said the government is coordinating with the Railway Ministry to arrange special trains for them and trains are expected in two days.
However, the Chief Minister said the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry should also convince migrant labourers not to leave the state. “If they all leave for their native places, all the works will be affected in the state,” he said.