Goa: Sudden curfew boomerangs on aam janata

PANAJI: The government's decision on Sunday evening to abruptly extend the voluntary curfew on Sunday to another three days shocked many Goans.
The state's reluctance to cancel the zilla parishad elections lulled most people into thinking that chief minister Pramod Sawant would not impose stringent measures like the extended lock-down, said many people who scrambled to purchase fish, vegetables, fruits and bread on Monday morning.After the Sunday lock-down, most assumed that they would shop for provisions on Monday, but the extended curfew threw life in a tizzy.
Corporation of City of Panaji's (CCP) market witnessed a complete shutdown with people milling about in the hope that stores would open. In Margao, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) market was open briefly but Goa Police shut it down.
"Not a single shop was open in Margao. No milk, no fish, no vegetables. What are people to eat?" said Rupesh Bharat from Aquem.
While citizens appreciated the decision to impose a lock-down, they rued the lack of prior intimation of the government's plans. "Responsible citizens who chose not to hoard food, sanitizers, medicine, and other supplies seem to be penalized by the chief minister's decision," said Vivian Mascarenhas, a citizen.
Goa Police was seen shutting down vegetable stalls, grocery stores and other shops in Bardez. As people took to social media to express their ire, Sawant chaired a meeting with his cabinet ministers and decided that stores selling groceries, milk, vegetable, fish and meat, including, supermarkets would be allowed to open between 6am and 11am on Tuesday and Wednesday. People will also be allowed to visit the stores to purchase provisions.
"No essential commodities are available. Vegetable and grocery shops are closed," said Subhash Prabhudesai, a Porvorim resident. However, not all towns and villages saw a total shut-down, such as parts of Ponda, Canacona, Salcete, Pernem, Nerul and Taleigao.
Povorim resident, Joel Cordeiro had to foot it to four shops for groceries and managed at the fifth where hordes of people gathered before cops shut it. After the police left, the vendor let people in one at a time.
"The CM clearly said essentials would continue to come to Goa. I can't understand why police were shutting down shops," he told TOI.
Cordeiro said he fears what will happen on Tuesday when the government said markets will be open between 6am to 11am. "This means we will have to get up at 4am and stand in line at least by 5am. This will cause much more chaos," Cordeiro said.