Kohima citizens to self-impose total lockdown if government doesn’t

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 21 (EMN): Amid rise of Covid-19 cases in the state capital, the Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) has once again appealed to the state government to impose total lockdown in Kohima municipality areas.

In a letter addressed to the deputy commissioner and chairman of district task force (DTF), Kohima, the association stated: “Despite the rejection of AKMWP’s appeal for a total lockdown for a period of two weeks within the Kohima municipality, the citizens are keenly observing the action and steps taken for containing the spread of coronavirus.”

It expressed concern that the detection of Covid-19 positive cases outside the quarantine centres was rising at an alarming rate, which could lead to ‘community spreading’.

“Thus, the citizens are pleading the AKMWP to pursue total lockdown,” it added.

“The wards’ opinions are that if the government is not concerned for the safety of its citizens, the wards will have no option but to self-impose ward total lockdown,” AKMWP stated.

The association appealed to the government to take appropriate measures within five days from the receipt of the letter, and stated that it represents the voice of the Kohima municipal wards panchayat.

Meanwhile the president of AKMWP, Neibulie Kiewhuo, informed Eastern Mirror that the letter was written and posted to the government on Monday (July 20) night following a voting among the leaders of 19 wards under Kohima Municipal Council.

“We are backed up by 99.9% of Kohima wards,” he said.

It may be recalled that the AKMWP had earlier appealed to the government on July 8 to impose total lockdown in the state capital for 14 days. Subsequently, the deputy commissioner had relayed the matter to the state government.

However, the high power committee had, on the advice of the Health officials, ruled out imposing lockdown in the state capital.