Malkangiri: Even as cases of COVID-19 infections are rising in Malkangiri district amid growing influx of migrant workers, the administration has sealed Odisha-Chhattisgarh borders at Jhapra, 20 km from the district headquarters. This has resulted in local business becoming stagnant, a report said.
The STF and the Chhattisgarh police do not allow to-and- fro entry of vehicles at this border point. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases mounted to 19 in the district, even as fears of infection grips people in the fringe areas.
Sukuma district of Chhattisgarh shares borders with Malkangiri. Some essentials are usually supplied to various parts of Malkangiri from Jagdalpur. The vehicles transporting essentials and vegetables have been halted on the borders. Weekly markets, bazaars in Jagdalpur and Raupur were closed.
Transportation of goods from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was also stopped. The local business of Malkangiri was depended on supplies from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
As transportation of goods has been banned, the business in some parts of the district was severely affected, locals said.
Meanwhile, Sukuma Collector Chandan Kumar has appealed to local residents not to go to Malkangiri.
Vegetables grown in Malkangiri are usually supplied to Chhattisgarh on a daily basis, as they have a high demand in some fringe areas of the neighbouring state.
After the border was sealed and restrictions imposed, vegetable farmers and small traders are unable to sell their produce in Chhattisgarh. They are left in the lurch due to restrictions, locals said.
PNN