Thiruvananthapuram: District administration faces ire over erroneous declaration of containment zones

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Caught between disease containment and ensuring livelihood, the district administration has come under fire for its erroneous declaration of containment zones leaving a drastic impact on merchant community and people's means of livelihood.
Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth has demanded exact identification of a ward where a positive case is reported before containment zones are fixed. He cited two instances to point out errors in the declaration of containment zones.
When a person residing at Peroor Nagar was tested positive, Kowdiar ward was declared as containment zone while the place actually falls under Peroorkada ward. In another instance when three persons were tested positive at Anchumukku in Kinavoor ward, Muttada ward was declared as containment zone. He did not mince words to say that the district administration should exercise more caution by proper communication with people's representatives and city corporation before identifying exact wards where containment is required.
The merchant community who have borne the brunt of lockdown impact has shown signs of losing patience over errors in determining containment zone. Karamana Ajith, BJP ward councillor also came out against declaration of Valiyasala as containment zone when positive cases were reported in Chalai.
He said that merchants and labourers dependent on Chalai market are on the verge of suicide since many are unable to pay debts, loans and even monthly rents. He pointed out unscientific closure at Chalai has led to a situation where people are struggling to survive and authorities don't seem to pay any attention.
The collective of merchant community said that in the 130 days of lockdown from March 25 till Saturday, shops at Palayam and Chalai couldn't be kept open even for 25 days. The authorities should answer the queries of merchants. They said that the collector is never to be reached over phone and this has further led to apprehensions over the survival of people who rely on markets for livelihood.
They said that they may be forced to resort to protest measures if authorities fail to address their concerns. They also sought an explanation on containment zones all over and free zones in the middle.
"It needs to be assumed whether Covid transmission is based onwards given the way containment zones are determined," the merchant said.
The retail store owners along the MG road have also voiced their concerns. They have already sent a letter to collector citing that it is imperative to allow businesses to address critical issues of livelihood.
"There is a scenario where retail businesses on one particular section of the road are allowed to operate whereas the businesses on the other side of the road are forced to shut down since these stores belong to different wards. MG road is the nerve centre of the district retail business and caters to over 2000 employees. Now one side of the road has been allowed to operate since it belongs to Vanchiyoor ward whereas the other side of the road has been shut down as it belongs to Thampanoor wards(by definition, a containment zone) . This is a highly irregular textbook implementation of the order which does not bear any logic," a letter addressed to the collector read.