BELAGAVI:
Karnataka’s decision making it compulsory for people travelling from Maharashtra to furnish Covid-19 negative certificates on arrival, has badly impacted people residing in villages near the border in Belagavi. People from about 20 villages in Maharashtra commute every day for work, education, essential commodities and others.
The Belagavi district police have set up
checkposts at Koganalli, Kagwad, Athani and Sadalaga and are conducting random checks on vehicles crossing the border. Laxman Nimbaragi, SP, has written letters to DCs and SPs in neighbouring districts in Maharashtra informing them of the new rule, while Mahadevappa Munji,
KSRTC divisional controller, has directed staff to only board passengers with a negative report.
KSRTC operates 347 buses from Belagavi to various districts in Maharashtra daily and the fear is that services could be cut if there is a fall in passenger numbers.
MG Hiremath, district deputy commissioner, said those who entered Belagavi in the past seven days must compulsorily undergo
RT-PCR tests. He said fresh rules would be implemented rigorously and 14 more checkposts would be set up at various points.
While these measures may help the state contain the the virus, it has come as a bane for residents in border villages in Maharashtra. People here say they struggled for essential supplies during the lockdown and fear another rerun.
Rahul Mandolkar from Shinoli village, Chandgad taluk, Maharashtra, who works as a teacher in a private school in Belagavi, said he travels almost every day. “The new rule has come as a shock to us,” Mandolkar said. “We have not had any problems so far, but as days pass rules will be enforced and travelling will become difficult.”
Rakesh Kamble, also from across the border, said the district administration should have taken daily commuters into account before announcing the rule. Belagavi is the nearest city for 20-25 villages and if cases in Maharashtra surge further, people fear harassment from Belagavi police.
Ashok Chandaragi, an activist who fed thousands during the lockdown, while stressing the need for negative
Covid reports, said the district administration must devise new rules for people in border villages. “Workers should be allowed entry by showing ID cards. Otherwise it may lead to chaos as people will find secret routes,” Chandaragi said.