PERNEM
With the government issuing directives on mandatory Covid-19 negative certificates for tourists entering the State, police teams began implementing the orders at the Patradevi, Poraskade and Kiranpani check posts since Monday.
But while police and health teams across the border check post in Banda-Maharashtra have been demanding e-pass and even conducting thermal checks for all motorists, health checks were virtually absent at the State’s three borders in Pernem taluka.
When contacted, Pernem Deputy Collector Ravishankar Nipanikar said the police were expected to conduct thermal tests.
“We have not received any order to appoint healthcare staff at the check posts as yet and if we receive these directives then health teams will be posted at our borders as well,” said Nipanikar.
When a team of reporters visited check posts across both states, it was noticed that only a few police personnel were present at the Goa side to handle a large number of vehicles entering Goa.
Meanwhile, 52 new Covid cases were reported in Pernem on Tuesday, taking the active cases to 1,553 in the taluka.
The new cases were detected in Dhargal (3), Mopa (1), Talarn (2), Hankhane (1), Poraskade (1), Pernem town (7), Keri (1), Morjim (6), Korgao (7), Arambol (4), Parcem (8), Agarwaddo (1) and Mandrem (10).
Despite the rising number of Covid cases, people are still seen overcrowding in the market and at shops in the taluka.
There are allegations that many bars are still illegally selling alcohol in many parts of Pernem taluka. Four persons were caught in the last few days on charges of illegally transporting alcohol in large quantities at the Pernem border.
There are also claims that alcohol is being transported through boats in Tiracol river to Kavthani, Satarda, Banda and Satose villages.
