CRUCIAL ROLE BY DISTRICT MAGISTRATES TO BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19

Shri Shanto G. Naik, Assistant Information Officer, Information and Publicity

In the wake of reported positive cases of COVID-19 in the State, the Government has adhered to the present conditions which will continue in Lockdown 4.0. Ever since the outbreak of Novel COVID-19 the State Government is endeavouring and working tirelessly to combat Corona Virus and to overcome the difficulties being faced by the people during this pandemic crisis. The Government has adopted a slew of measures to ensure that the lockdown remains in force and is followed by all citizens. Many steps have been taken to ensure that people from different walks of life don’t feel the pinch of the lockdown. The District Collectors are instrumental in implementing the state’s directives. As the Corona virus pandemic unfolds in India, DCs are playing a key role in mitigating its impact.

However, whenever any disaster occurs be it earthquakes, cyclones and crisis such as COVID-19 pandemic District Disaster Management Authority play a crucial role to mitigate, prevent or respond to the disaster, as well as restrict movement of persons and vehicles.

The entire process to deal with Covid-19 Pandemic in the State was very dynamic and challenging task. Ever since the outbreak of novel corona virus and the subsequent guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) the Collectorate North Goa ensured that the same are implemented in right perspective. This was expressed by Smt. R. Menaka, District Collector, North Goa.

Under the DDMA 2005 the Collector informed that the Collectorate Office coordinated with the all concerned Department to see that the guidelines of MHA are followed in true spirit and in real sense. It also ensured that the directives of the State Executive Committee (SEC) were implemented effectively alongwith the guidelines of Government of India and the State Government to adopt measures and fight against the Covid-19. She held hectic interaction with interstate authorities as regard to facilitating the movement of vehicular traffic and also coordinated with her counterpart in other States.

In pursuance to the directives of SEC the District Magistrate North Goa permitted all trucks in transit to reach their destination to overcome the problem of trucks stranded on the borders and also permitted movement only for trucks carrying essential goods such as groceries, food items, medicines, pharmaceutical goods, LPG, seeds and fertilizers, chemicals for water and sewerage treatment and others, including the activities permitted in the MHA order. Similarly, the DM facilitated the operation of all Pharmaceuticals industrial units along with its entire supply chain along with Manufacturing units and their entire supply chain related to essential commodities including Food Products, Petrol pumps, LPG Petroleum and gas retail and storage outlets, Groceries, milk, vegetable/Fruits, Hospitals and all related medical establishments, including their manufacturing and distribution units, both in public and private sectors , such as dispensaries, chemist and medical equipment shops laboratories, clinics nursing homes ambulances etc remained functional. The transportation for all medicals personnel nurses, paramedical staff, and other hospital support services. Incident Commanders for talukas, municipal and outside municipal areas with specific tasks assigned were appointed. Officers have also been appointed as Incharge of quarantine centres and border control in respective jurisdictions.

24 x 7 State Control Room headed by Shri Sanjay Kumar,IAS, Secretary Revenue, Member Secretary, SDMA functional at State Level, as well as District and taluka levels. Shelter Homes and Relief Camps have been set up and Officers appointed for monitoring the Shelter Homes and Relief Camps.

The process of sending of stranded migrants to their native states has already been started. The first special train Shramik Express of , carrying 1222 migrant workers from Madhya Pradesh left Goa on May 8, 2020 from Thivim Railway station to Gwalior. The District Magistrate North Goa Smt. R. Menaka IAS informed that, the Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, and some other states had contacted the state Government and requested to make arrangements to send passengers back to their respective state. Accordingly, arrangements were made with the help of state Government Authorities.

All the Passengers were brought from their housed locations to Peddem Sport Complex and from Nehru Stadium by special KTC buses. The required registration of passengers was done and subsequently they were screened for COVID-19 symptoms by the medical staff.

The entire operation was monitored by the District Magistrate North Goa Smt R.Menka IAS, Collector South Goa Shri Ajit Roy IAS, Addl. Collector South Shri Arvind Kuttikar, Addl. Collector II North Shri Gopal Parsekar, Addl. Collector II Shri Dasharath Redkar Addl. Collector North Shri Shashank Tripathi IAS, DIG Goa Shri Paramaditya IPS, S.P North Shri Utkrisht Prasanna IPS,DYSP, Railway Protection Force Shri Sathisan V.V,General Manager K.R, Shri Joseph Georg, Dy. Chief Manager K.R Shri Baban Ghatge, Sr. Commercial Inspector Shri Anup Pednekar and others.

During the lockdown District Magistrates through their Executive Magistrates along with Police officials who were appointed at the check post border of Goa for strict vigil at the entry points of the borders of the State, to ensure that Goa remain safe.

-- DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY. THIRD FLOOR,UDYOG BHAVAN, NEAR AZAD MAIDAN, GOA