the goan I network
PERNEM
Shortage of staff at the Patradevi border checkpost have led to long queues of vehicles and the porous internal routes have enabled the movement of liquor from Goa into Maharashtra.
According to sources, a shortage of staff at the Patradevi border check post has caused long queues of vehicles, as documents and permissions have to be checked before a vehicle is allowed to enter the State. “If any senior official is present at the checkpost, all documents are checked and the driver is cross-checked otherwise the staff have to rely on documents provided by the driver.
As part of security measures during the lockdown, details of the vehicle, driver, cargo as well as origin and destination of the vehicle have to be recorded.
However, when a team of media persons visited the Patradevi checkpost on Tuesday, staffer were found to be lax in verifying these details.
“It is not possible to check everything in detail as there is shortage of employees at the checkpost,” explained a staff on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, many locals have claimed that Goan liquor has been finding its way out of Pernem taluka with relative ease.
A local from Kavthani-Maharashtra on condition of anonymity said liquor has been illegally transported at night by a bus owned by a former Maharashtra minister since the last eight days.
Added another local: “Liquor is also transported via internal roads at night in Patradevi, which are not checked by excise or police personnel. Police had nabbed a person illegally transporting liquor and he confessed that liquor had been brought from Pernem,” said a local.
Locals also claimed that liquor is transported from the Tiracol River to Kiranpani, Kavthani, Satarda, Satoshem and Banda in Maharashtra.
“Some people engaged in the fish business bring fish from Aronda to Palyem and while returning, they take back liquor in their vehicles. When the excise staff were informed about this, they began patrolling the area to stop
the illegal transportation of liquor into Maharashtra,” said another local.
