Panaji, Mar 29 (IANS): In face of failed efforts to run a volunteer-based system to home-deliver essential goods for nearly a week now, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday announced that food delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato had been roped in to deliver food and grocery items to peoples homes.

"eCommerce operators such as @swiggy_in, @ZomatoIN, and other platforms have been permitted to deliver food and other grocery items. #GoaFightsCOVID19," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tweeted.

The development comes at a time when complaints have emerged from various parts of the state,about the inability of the volunteer-based system to deliver essential goods and a lack of stock in most grocery stores in the state.

Goa has been under janata curfew for eight days now, since March 22. The one-day curfew announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was initially extended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, even as the Prime Minister's 21-day curfew came into force subsequently.

Grocery stores were opened earlier this week on account of public pressure, which resulted in panic buying.