Villagers oppose COVID care centre at Colva

Margao : Villagers of Colva have opposed the notification of Colva Residency as a COVID care centre, arguing that no strict measures have been put in place to keep a vigil on patients.

Villagers, panchayat members and local MLA Churchill Alemao will be meeting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday over the issue. 

The villagers asserted that they will put the entire village under a lockdown if Sawant does not heed to their grievance.

A group of villagers on Sunday morning met as part of a signature campaign to oppose Colva Residency as a COVID care centre. The residence has been upgraded from being a quarantine facility to COVID 19 care centre for accommodating asymptomatic patients.

The villagers have been apprehensive about the government’s decision saying that safety of the people could be jeopardised.

Clifton Rodrigues said that there will be no check on the movement of people at the centre, which will handle COVID positive cases.

Alemao told a press conference that he will speak to the Chief Minister on

the matter.

“It is a concern, but we have to question the CM and see what he says,” he said, adding that “I cannot force a lockdown, but I don’t have an objection”.

Village sarpanch Anthony Fernandes and panch members said that they will take a decision on locking down the village after the meeting scheduled with Sawant. 

“We had given a written representation to the South Goa collector, requesting him not to allow more quarantine centres in Colva. Colva Residency has been set up as a COVID 19 care centre, which has spooked the people,” he said. 

“We will be meeting the CM tomorrow.  If he doesn’t rescind the decision on the centre then we will impose a lockdown in the village. We don’t mind the existence of a quarantine centre, but we do not want a COVID 19 hospital (in Colva),” Fernandes said. 

Locals also questioned the need to notify a hotel as a care centre and not  a hospital.