All is not well with total lockdown in Kohima

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 2 (EMN): With the supply of essential commodities almost running out of stock in the markets, consumers in the state capital of Kohima seemto have been caught between the ‘devil and the deep blue sea’ as the total lockdown has been extended till August 7.

Kohima district task force had enforced the total lockdown on July 25 to contain the surge of Covid-19 cases. While it has come to the public domain, the common people have undergone a harrowing time and have borne the brunt silently.

The district authority, after extending one more week of total lockdown in the city, has listed few shops in the respective wards and colonies to operate in order to facilitate the needs of the citizens keeping in mind the health protocols during the lockdown.

However, it was reported that couple of shops selling goods and commodities to the people are running out of stock within a short time. It was also reported that many had to go home empty handed despite waiting in the long queue for hours in the hope to get their share. It remained uncertain whether such outlets would be opened for the rest of the total lockdown period.

Meanwhile, price of green chillies has spiralled to INR 400-500 per kg in some colonies on Sunday, which normally is priced around INR 170.
While some people continue to have access to government supply water, majority of the citizens in the urban areas depend on those commercial trucks which sell water. They have to buy water in huge amount costing additional expenditure due to the total lockdown.

For now, the service of the commercial trucks for water requirement has been stopped as the residents have started to adopt rainwater harvesting. However, the need for water continues for those from underprivileged sections as they have to walk for hours to collect water from rivers. There was also reports of many people breaking the rules of social distancing protocol.

A citizen informed Eastern Mirror that many people from behind overtook those in-front despite the demarcated area for maintaining social distancing between customers while procuring essential commodities at the shops.

“The Dimapur Police of partial lockdown is far better,” said one citizen who recently came to Kohima from Dimapur.

Citizens have also complained about stale vegetables being put up on sale after the closure of commercial establishments for many days due to the total lockdown.

Volunteers have been easing the burden of the authority in enforcing the restrictions throughout different phases of lockdown in the city. However, there were also reports of “ill-mannered volunteers,” harassing customers verbally who had come to buy their needs despite permission granted by the concerned authority.