COVID-19: Vested with Collector’s power, Sarpanch orders shutdown in 9 villages

Berhampur: Using the special power conferred by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, woman Sarpanch of Manitara Gram Panchayat (GP) under Buguda block in Ganjam district today announced shutdown in the GP to prevent COVID-19 outbreak in the area.

It is pertinent to mention here that the state Government had earlier said Sarpanchs would get special power of Collector in their jurisdiction to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The shutdown will remain in force between 11 am and 7 am the next day for seven days till May 15. However, all essential shops will remain open for four hours from 7 am to 11 am everyday.

“The Manitara GP houses nine villages. There are quarantine centres here for migrant returnees. As it came to our notice that villagers are roaming near quarantine centres to meet and provide home food to their family members kept in the temporary medical camps (TMCs), we decided to go for a shutdown,” said Sarpanch Shantilata Nayak.

Ganjam district has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Till last reports came in, the number of positive cases in the district was 89, out of the total 294 cases in Odisha.