Goa: Mormugao civic body chief appeals for voluntary shutdown in port town

VASCO: With the state government rejecting the demand for lockdown of the port town in view of spike in Covid cases, chairperson of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Nandadeep Raut, on Friday appealed to Vasco citizens to opt for a voluntary shutdown.
“The chief minister will surely take all the necessary steps, but we too should take precautionary measures,” Raut said.
Citing the cases detected in the urban health centre, he said, “A woman working at the urban health centre has a relative who sells vegetables at the market. This itself shows the risk we are at. It is very important that we go in for a voluntary lockdown keeping in view the safety of Vasco.”
Raut said he had received many calls from shopkeepers and local businessman assuring that they would closing down from Saturday, while members of the vegetable, fruit and fish market committees have said they will close down from Monday.
Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, who had been demanding a complete lockdown in the port town, said, “Several people have realised the seriousness of the situation. I support the chairperson in his demand for the lockdown.”
Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha has also supported Almeida’s demand. She said people from Vasco work at different places, increasing the risk of community transmission.
State NCP president and former Vasco MLA Jose Philip D’Souza, said the focus should be on safeguarding people’s lives. “This situation is very serious and we need to plan with everyone’s cooperation. Politics should not be involved where lives are concerned,” he said. He also urged Almeida to decide on an action plan, together with the chief minister and party members, and then make it known to citizens “to avoid the kind of chaos Vasco witnessed two days ago in the markets”.
While the Vasco MLA and the MMC claim that there will be a voluntary shutdown, it all depends whether the shop owners cooperate on Saturday. There has been an appeal on social media requesting everyone to join the voluntary shutdown.
Anand Naik, a general store owner who has three shops in different parts of Vasco, said he has decided to shut all his shops from Saturday. “If those who are infected come shopping, it can cause problems for many others and my family too,” Naik said.
MGP’s senior functionary and Madkai MLA Ramkrishna Dhavalikar called for immediate sealing of Dabolim and Sancoale areas along with Vasco town to prevent community transmission.
Mahila Congress has demanded sealing of state borders for some time.