CMC wants Cuncolim industrial estate declared as containment zone

NT NETWORK

Margao

Chairperson of Cuncolim Municipal Council, along with other councillors, on Tuesday, submitted a memorandum to  South Goa Collector, appealing to the Chief Minister to declare the industrial estate in Cuncolim as a containment zone, where as many as 70 COVID cases have been detected.

Meanwhile, the locals staged a protest in Cuncolim demanding to declare the industrial estate as a containment zone.

CMC chairperson Succorina Coutinho said that letters requesting for declaring the area as containment zone were written in the past, but to no avail.

“The council had written a letter long ago, but there has been no action till now. We wanted action against those factories that had reported COVID cases, and declare the industrial estate as containment zone. Back then there were few cases, now, it has increased. As per the information I have received, many are not being declared also,” she said.

She added that the risk of COVID spreading is higher now.

“These migrants who come to work at the factories, don’t live in the factories  but in the rooms in the municipal area. Many a times their family members test positive and they move about the municipal area which can spread the virus to others. These factories should be sealed and the workers should either be home quarantined or kept isolated in the factories itself. Either seal the factories or declare the industrial estate as a containment zone,” said Coutinho. 

Meanwhile, around 10 to 12 locals from Cuncolim accompanied by a councillor Shashank Desai staged a protest holding banners stating ‘Aata Bhivpachi Garaj Assa,’ demanding declaration of the particular area as a containment zone.

“We want to tell the Chief Minister and Home Minister that we have to worry now. The industrial estate is a hotspot, and their workers are staying in the villages and municipal areas. We are panicked. Today, we are 12 of us and represent 12,000 people. If required we will shut the industries also,” Desai said.

On Monday alone, 25 COVID cases were reported at the Cuncolim industrial estate, taking the total number of cases to around 70.

On Tuesday, several cases were reported in the municipal area creating fear among the locals.