Residents of Dairy Farm Complain of Unhygienic Conditions After The Area Was Sealed

Port Blair, Aug 4: With cases of COVID-19 soaring in the South Andaman District, the District Administration is on a mission to identify the hotspots and declare it as Containment Zones. As on date areas like Shore Point, Prem Nagar, Garacharma, Bhatu Basti, Dairy Farm, Phoenix Bay, Junglighat and Haddo has been declared as Containment Zones. Sources indicate that more such areas including Ratnam Market are on the radar.

While the Andaman Administration seems to have woken finally, with appropriate steps being taken, the approach of the Administration without keeping in loop the local elected representatives, have become a matter of serious concern. Barricades are placed in the Containment Zones so as to ensure no one moves in or out of the Zone.

“It was last Friday that the officials placed barricades in our Dairy Farm area. When I enquired, I was told that its because of the two day lockdown on Saturday and Sunday. But then I came to know through news that the area has been declared as Containment Zone, which will continue till 31st August”, said a resident to Andaman Chronicle, cautious enough to request not to reveal her identity.

“They sealed our area without intimation, which is causing great sufferings to the people. We don’t have money, gas cylinders and medicines for common illness. To add to the situation the Health Centre in our area has also been shut down. If this continues, the people inside the containment zone will die of other ailments rather than COVID-19”, she said.

The resident further said that there is no cleaning in our area since the time it has been declared a Containment Zone. Streets are littered with garbage. Hungry cattle have been spreading the garbage. The said part is that the ward councillor is not responding to our calls, the resident added.

While Andaman Chronicle appreciates the move of the Andaman Administration in identifying and declaring Containment Zone, it is strongly felt that the residents should not be deprived of the basic facilities like medicines, health care and sanitation. Else the efforts to contain the pandemic would turn into a disaster in itself.