Goa: Villages across Bardez move in with strict curbs

PANAJI: Various panchayats across Bardez taluka have decided to impose their own restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. While Assagao and Guirim panchayats have prohibited shootings for films, serials and advertisements in its jurisdiction, Verla Canca and Guirim panchayats said hotels should not check in new guests during the period when curbs are imposed.
Pilerne panchayat similarly made a 17-day quarantine period mandatory for family members of Covid-19 patients.
Bardez has among the highest concentration of active Covid-19 cases, with around 1,500 cases each in Mapusa and Candolim and another nearly 1,300 cases in Porvorim.
Taking a cue from Calangute, Penha de Franca and Salvador do Mundo panchayats, who have already imposed lockdowns in their jurisdiction, Socorro panchayat adopted a lockdown, while Guirim and Verla Canca panchayats declared themselves ‘containment zones’.
The Verla Canca panchayat has declared itself a ‘major containment zone’ and has adopted containment zone like restrictions for 15 days, from May 3 to 17. Sarpancha Amita Korgaonkar said the decision was taken at a special panchayat meeting held on May 2. The aim, she said, is to bring the rising number of cases under control and to reduce Covid-19 related deaths in the area.
The panchayat has restricted public movement in its jurisdiction beyond 12pm. Stores selling essentials will be allowed to operate between 6am and 12pm, provided they ensure that customers observe social distancing, wear masks and sanitisers are provided outside the store.
“Marriage ceremonies will only be allowed at religious places and this is subject to permission from the deputy collector. Not more than 20 guests will be permitted. Hotels which are having guests as of today will be allowed to stay till their booking period is over. No fresh guests should be checked in during the lockdown period,” the order by Verla Canca panchayat states.
The panchayat has also ordered a halt on construction activity in the area.
In Pilerne Marra panchayat jurisdiction, apart from all Covid positive patients, who have to mandatorily remain under isolation for 17 days, their family members too will have to isolate themselves for the said period, sarpancha Sandeep Bandodkar stated in his order.
“Cases are on the rise in Porvorim area and our neighbouring panchayats Penha de Franca and Salvador do Mundo have declared lockdowns. This may lead to persons from those areas coming to Socorro to purchase essentials. Therefore, we have also imposed a lockdown from May 4 to 9,” Socorro sarpancha Sandeep Vazarkar said. There was a demand that as the neighbouring villages had gone under lockdown, Socorro too should follow suit.
He said that all stores selling essentials will be allowed to operate only from 7am to 1pm. If anyone is found operating after the specified time, their licenses will be cancelled by the panchayat.
“We will be monitoring the lockdown along with police personnel and we will see that shutters are downed on any stores that remain open beyond the specified time,” Vazarkar said.
The Guirim panchayat declared itself a ‘containment red zone’ from May 4 to 12 and stores selling essentials will be allowed to operate only from 6am to 11pm.
“Residents working in government or semi-government services and private industries will be allowed to exit and enter only on providing a valid employment ID along with government ID,” sarpancha Rima Gadekar said in the order. Public buses too will not be allowed inside the village.
Assagao panchayat will allow stores selling essentials to operate from 6am to 1pm.
Parra, Saligao and Arpora are the other village panchayats in Bardez, which have imposed some restrictions.