CITY MARKET BLUNDERS STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA
We welcome the decision of the Chief Minister to instruct the police to fine people not wearing masks and also penalise those spreading rumours about COVID cases. Does our CM know what is happening to our Panjim Market? The CCP Mayor is acting as anti-people as the Taleigao Panchayat. We Panjimites were dependent on the Panjim market as it was a one-stop place we could get everything efficiently. Then came Covid and we realised the value of the TALEIGAO FARMERS who grew vegetables in their fields and sold them on the side of the road. Otherwise with the lockdown people would have been starving. Using the COVID lockdown TALEIGAO Panchayat filled some of these precious fields near the PANCHAYAT GHAR to grab around 6000 sq mtrs of fertile land. In the face of criticism, instead of positive action by the Sarpanch of Taleigao Panchayat (which is supposed to be FOR the people not AGAINST them) they stopped peaceful agitation by farmers and activists by arresting them and dragging them physically without justification. Now when we need essential commodities from the market the Municipality is doing further confusion. Vendors were given permission to sell their vegetables near Inox with all sorts of instructions by the Mayor. Then all of a sudden there was news of a positive Covid case. A bartender near the fish market absconded and was not traceable even by the police and everyone panicked. Then there was a rumour that a vegetable seller was infected. After a big noise by the market association leader and the public, there was a series of press statements by the Mayor about all the different timings and ultimately now the market is being kept open to the public as the authorities say the news was fake. I feel all those who were spreading rumours and making us dance to their tunes, including the Mayor, need to be taken to task. If an ulterior motive is found, may be even an FIR needs to be filed. STEPHEN DIAS PANJIMITE AND RESIDENT OF DONA PAULA AND SENIOR CITIZEN 15.6.2020 9422443110
