Malkangiri: The mechanised boat service in Chitrakonda reservoir in the district, which had remained suspended for three months in the wake of COVID pandemic, has been resumed.
The mechanised boats serve as lifeline for people of 151 villages under 8 panchayats in the Swabhiman Anchal as they have to cross the reservoir to go to the markets to get their daily needs besides medicines.
Following the outbreak of COVID in the second wave, the district administration had suspended the boat services to prevent spread of the disease. It had virtually quarantined the villagers who could not move out of their villages surrounded by the reservoir.
“The prolonged restriction on movement of boats deprived us of getting vegetables and other perishable items. We had to sustain on dry food during the period. Besides, medicines were also not available,” said some villagers.
Though they welcomed the administration’s measures to prevent spread of COVID, they demanded supply of essential items during such restrictions.
