PERNEM
Acting on directives from the Maharashtra government, authorities on Wednesday began screening those entering Maharashtra from the state borders in Pernem taluka.
People leaving Goa and entering Maharashtra were seen waiting in queues on the Maharashtra side of the check posts at Kiranpani-Aronda, Naibag-Satarda and Banda-Patradevi.
Locals in Pernem were irked as persons crossing over to Maharashtra would have to undergo these checks, but such checks were not required from those entering Goa.
To add to their anger, many people visiting Banda, Satarda, Sawantwadi, Aronda and surrounding areas in Maharashtra on a daily or regular basis for work or other purposes were also held up in a queue to undergo the checks.
Their vehicle numbers were also noted down before allowing them to proceed further into Maharashtra. Police teams were also deployed at these check posts.
The Maharashtra government’s decision to enforce checks on those arriving from Goa has also hit tourism business along Pernem’s coast.
“There are many tourists who had arrived from Maharashtra and were staying in hotels along the beaches of Pernem. They did not want to get caught in these checks by authorities along the Maharashtra border and hence, abruptly cut short their holiday and returned to Maharashtra by Tuesday,” said a source.
“This has affected tourism business along Pernem’s coast and if tourists are reluctant to visit Pernem coast on account of these checks on their way back to Maharashtra, it can ruin the tourism season in the area.”
