Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jul 17: Goa governor, Satya Pal Malik pointed as err of judgement with the decisions taken by the chief minister Pramod Sawant led government with regard to measures taken to curb the pandemic. The governor criticized the mismanagement and warned that the centre was keeping a close watch and Sawant should 'pull up his socks'.

The governor said, "The main problem is that we got satisfied at a time when we should not have been satisfied. When people were calling for a lockdown in Vasco, we did not do it. Now that it has increased, we are going for a lockdown. This is an error of judgement."

The governor's intervention came after the state is witnessing rapid increase in the number of cases and deaths. Sawant had earlier stated that the COVID-19 related deaths in the state were a result of comorbidities which the governor took as no excuse. "If a cancer patient gets Covid and he is sent to the Covid hospital, he is treated with paracetamol tablets. This cannot continue. I have given clear instructions to the government to treat patients with comorbidities properly and not put them under a similar treatment like the other patients," Malik said.

In a review meeting with Sawant and health minister Vishwajit Rane, the governor also raised concerns regarding the overall management of the pandemic. "There was a problem with the quality of the food being provided at Covid care centres. There was no proper system in place to supply essential commodities in Mangor Hill. In Covid hospital also, they were not clear about anything," Malik said.

The governor questioned on the reason for agitation in Mangor Hill and Zuari Nagar if essential commodities were reaching micro and containment zones. He raised the concern for daily labourers, if the government had planned any scheme, likewise on various aspects.

Malik said that his questions do not entirely imply that the government is not doing good work. "Departments, doctors, health minister, everybody is working day and night, but there are certain other things which have to be taken care of and that I have suggested," he said.