53,783 people entered Amreli in unauthorized manner: Govt to HC

Ahmedabad: The state government informed the Gujarat high court that as many as 53 ,783 persons entered Amreli district from other districts in “unauthorized manner”. They were all natives of Amreli district, who returned after the nationwide lockdown.

In the latter stage of the lockdown, the state government permitted intra-state migrants to go back to their native places.

Amreli district has one of the highest number of intra-state migrant workers, most of whom work in Surat. Amreli remained a zero Covid-19 district for most of the time, and its over-zealous administration blocked roads by digging them up and barricading them with gando bawal. Following an HC order, the authorities were compelled to remove the gando bawal and fill up the dug roads.

In response to a PIL filed through advocate Bhaumik Dholaria, challenging the permanent barricading that also restricted emergency movements, the state government told the HC that total 39 roads were kept open for entry into Amreli district for people and vehicles with valid passes.

Till date, 1,09,532 persons entered Amreli district from other states and districts of Gujarat. Of them, 53,794 persons entered the district through 39 entry points, where there were screening provisions. The remaining 55,783 persons entered the district “in an unauthorised manner”, the government told the HC in a report.

It further said, that most of these persons “have come from Surat, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Junagadh and Botad. All such areas have been notified as Covid-19 hotspots.”

Defending its zealous digging up of roads and gando bawal barricades to block vehicular movement, which also hindered an ambulance, the government told the HC that Amreli district has a population of 15 lakh and 615 gram panchayats, but the authorities did not receive a single complaint about the blocked roads.