Phub Dem  

Paro dzongkhag has allowed movement within zones in lower-risk areas starting yesterday to make lockdown bearable for the residents.

Residents can visit identified shops in their zones. However, the dzongkhag administration has initiated home delivery of essential items for the residents in the red zones.

Shaba, Lungnyi gewog centre, Agriculture Machinery Centre, Khangkhu, Kyichu and areas adjacent to Lamgong gewog centre are declared red zones.

The dzongkhag’s Covid-19 taskforce members distributed movement cards to those who have misplaced the cards or changed their location yesterday.

Paro remained deserted during the strict lockdown with only a few individuals visiting shops to buy essentials.

Residents said they were anxious to step out of their homes and meet outsiders.

A resident, Wangchen said that even if people were allowed to move within their zones, she was scared with the surge in the number of cases. She said that she had stocked essentials to last at least a month.

Tsendona Tshogpa Tashi said that the villagers hardly visited the shops even if they remained open the whole day.

He said that villagers have no shortage of essentials. Since the farmers have no farm produce to sell, he said there were no issues, unlike the previous lockdown.

Similarly, Geptay-Olathang Tshogpa Kencho said that only a few residents came out for shopping. “Some are afraid to move around.”

During the first lockdown, shops in his chiwog did not register to operate, so the residents had to visit the town to buy essential goods.

According to the officials, the dzongkhag has sufficient vegetables, livestock products and animal feed.

Agriculture officer Tandin said that the dzongkhag had been buying vegetables from southern dzongkhags. “We don’t have any shortages.”

With a consistent supply of animal feed from Phuentsholing, Livestock officer of Paro, Loden Jimba said that feed agents had been delivering to the zones.

Besides, he said that the livestock office had collected livestock products from farms and distributed them to dealers and stores.

“We are planning to send excess eggs to Bhutan Livestock Development Corporation in Thimphu tomorrow,” he said.