Coastal Karnataka ensures supply of essentials to north Kerala amidst lockdown

Jaideep Shenoy | TNN | Apr 15, 2020, 16:04 IST

At HD Kote-Kerala border, the vehicle drivers are allowed to enter Karnataka only after a medical examination, including thermal scanning.

At HD Kote-Kerala border, the vehicle drivers are allowed to enter Karnataka only after a medical examination,...Read More

MANGALURU: Supply of essential commodities from Karnataka to Kerala despite the temporary closure of state border at Talapady is going on unhindered. Northern parts of God's own country are getting regular supplies of items through the check post at Talapady in Dakshina Kannada district.
The district administration has ensured that decision by the state government to close the border does not deprive Kerala of its rightful share of essential items.
With dust settling on other issue that was bone of contention between two states – emergency medical treatment for patients from Kasaragod in medical facilities in this coastal city also settling, the administration is keeping strict vigil on both these issues. Kasaragod and Malabar region of Kerala depend on the state for their essential supplies including rice, cereals and pulses. Coastal Karnataka sourced copra, coconut oil, rubber sheets from Kerala.
Sindhu B Rupesh, deputy commissioner, Dakshina Kannada said there have been no issue about movement of essential commodities to Kerala through Talapady on NH 66. Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 that the state government issued on March 31 has only barred movement of patients across the state borders in view of acute shortage of healthcare facilities in the state, This order has not hindered movement of essential commodities.
Aiding the administration in this endeavour is the Old Bunder Wholesale Kirana Merchants Association. “We have adhered to direction that district administration has given us on ensuring supply of essential items to Kerala,” said Panduranga Bhandarkar, president of the association. Incidentally, wholesale sub-market here is main source of commodities for Kerala and place in North Kerala, up to Payyanur, Kannur, used to get commodities from here.
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, lone petrochemical complex in Karnataka too it catering to fuel requirements of North Kerala. Bullet tankers carrying LPG to bottling plants there and fuel tankers transporting petrol/diesel to Kerala are moving products from the refinery at Kuthethur on a routine basis. Oil marketing companies in Kerala source their products from MRPL, albeit not scale they used to do earlier, a MRPL functionary said.