Panaji, Jun 15 (IANS): As around 10 villages have imposed five-seven days shutdowns amid rising number of Covid-19 cases, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, here on Monday, village panchayats couldn't impose lockdowns in their jurisdictions.

"Panchayats can't impose lockdown. They should not do it. Those who willingly want to stay at home, they can," Sawant said at the Secretariat.

Sawant has repeatedly been making overtures to the people to go about their normal business with adequate safety and hygiene precautions as the state looks to revive the economy, flattened by the pandemic.

Over the last couple of weeks, several panchayats especially in Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda sub-districts, including those controlled by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have imposed lockdowns in the wake of spike in Covid-19 cases in the state.

The state's Covid-19 tally has crossed 490.

Some panchayats have even threatened Rs 5,000 fine for lockdown violation.

While initially the spread was limited to the Mangor hill area in South Goa, which was later declared a containment zone, the infection has now reached rural areas.