Armed with strictures, Goa fights to bend the curve

PANAJI: The lack of trust in the state government’s ability to ensure availability of essential grocery items was clear on Saturday as Goans rushed to stockpile food items. The senseless purchases across the state came despite chief minister and other government officials repeatedly assuring residents that grocery stores will remain open from 7am to 1pm on each day of the 15-day state-wide curfew.
Another reason behind the panic was the confusion between the curbs imposed by the state and the lockdowns announced by village panchayats and municipalities. Given that the state government issued the notification regarding the curfew much later on Saturday evening, residents decided not to leave anything to chance and resorted to panic buying.
“During the first wave in last year we had to run from pillar to post as government suddenly extended the lockdown. We don’t want to face similar situation hence making provision for at least a week,” said Rajendra Naik, a resident of Khandepar, Ponda.
Long queues were seen outside grocery shops, supermarkets and wholesale traders, a clear indication that people do not rely on the government. Hordes were seen at the SGPDA market in Margao prompting personnel from Farorda Police station to shut down the market. Long queues were seen outside the Goa Sahakar Bhandar and at supermarket stores in Taleigao, Caranzalem, Miramar and Merces.
Social distancing was maintained at most places with people queuing up patiently. Double masking has also picked up among people.
Law commissioner and chairman of Goa’s largest chain of departmental store - Bagayatdar Bazar, Narendra Sawaikar appealed to people not to rush as the stores would remain open daily. Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte made similar efforts to create awareness in their respective constituencies.
In several villages and constituencies, ward representative were seen moving about and urging people to stay indoors, wear masks and maintain social distancing. This also created friction in some villages. In Benaulim a panch member and a store owner got into a verbal spat after the panch member demanded that the store should down its shutters. The store owner pointed out that the government’s directives permit grocery stores to be open and that the panchayat could not supercede the government’s orders.
Magsons, which has 11 stores in the state could keep just nine operational as the Varca panchayat has imposed a complete shut down and the store at Caculo Mall has been shut as the mall itself is shut. Borkar’s superstore, which has 14 outlets could only keep five open for similar reasons.
In Vasco, people threw caution to the wind and thronged to the narrow vegetable and fruit market fearing scarcity from Sunday onwards. Some people said that while they knew that essential services would be available, the fear of being beaten up by Goa police during the curfew prompted them to stock up for the curfew period.
The purchases were record high as by evening the huge Vasco vegetable market was half empty. Milk was also unavailable at many places. Similar scenes played out in Tiswadi, Salcete, Bardez, Canacona, Pernem, Bicholim and Old Goa as people rushed to make last minute purchases.
While there were no long queues at most shops in the Calangute-Candolim beach-belt, in Parra, Saligao and Siolim people started rushing to grocery stores and medical stores. In Calangute and Candolim, the village panchayats had announced ‘lockdowns’ much earlier and people had already stocked up on provisions.
Down south in Canacona, crowds were witnessed in the commercial hub of Chaudi but the gathering appeared to be primarily due to boredom and curiosity. Many concerned residents who witnessed the rush at Chaudi town, blamed the authorities for allowing crowds to assemble. “When the government has clearly stated that the groceries and other essential supplies will be open from 7am to 1pm, what’s the need for residents to crowd,” asked a retired teacher.