Kohima enters 10th day of total lockdown; streets wear deserted look

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 3 (EMN): As Kohima entered day-10 of the total lockdown, which was imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19, streets continue to wear a deserted look and very little vehicular movement has been witnessed – since day-one. The police have been checking unnecessary movements of people and vehicles at various points across the town.

Speaking with Eastern Mirror, administrator of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) Kovi Meyase assured the citizens that there is enough stock of goods and asked the citizens not to panic.

On the ninth day of the total lockdown in Kohima, some select goods shops were allowed to open for few hours so that residents could buy essential goods from their own colonies, as per the notification issued by the KMC.
“We have also issued special transport permit to the wholesaler and transporters to bring in additional stocks in Kohima, and there is absolutely no shortage,” he assured.

When asked if the administrators can fulfil the demands of the citizens if the lockdown continues, he replied that “unless something beyond our comprehension happens, till now, we are confident that we can continue to have enough stock.”

He also updated that he had meetings with the wholesalers to understand the situation.

“I have taken information from them and we have worked out a mechanism where wholesalers and transporters in Kohima are all ready to refurnish our stock anytime,” he stated.
Regarding the rates of goods, he said that they were also checking the rates.
“On perishable items and seasonal goods like tomatoes, chilly etc., we cannot have a fixed rate since if it is off-season the rates go high,” he said, adding that the rates need to be closely monitored. He informed that they would be rationalising the rates, which was fixed in March this year.

He said that he spoke to people, who took advantage of the crisis and started charging their own rate, at his office.

He further urged the citizens in the municipality area for their cooperation during the total lockdown, saying that even though there were instances where some volunteers had ‘gone a little overboard, these are exceptional instances only and majority are following the order properly’.

“I am also a little concerned about non-adherence to social distancing while opening shops and rates of commodities is one concern, which hopefully, we can get it addressed immediately,” he said.