Looking for a drink, Karnataka villagers head to Goa jungles

KERI: With a complete lockdown on all things alcoholic, people from the border villages of Maharashtra and Karnataka are desperate for a tipple.
Closed roads and highways mean there is no easy way into Goa for their usual urrack and feni. For the last three days villagers from Virdi, Talekhol, Aayi in Maharashtra have resorted to walking across the border into Goa through traditional jungle paths.
On Thursday, Valpoi police inspector Shivram Vaigankar received information that some people from neighbouring villages were to arrive in Shiroli.On investigation, police found villagers from Virdi and Talekhol had assembled at traditional liquor distillery units here. When it was revealed that they had come specially to drink urrak and feni, they were forced to disperse after police threatened to beat them with lathis.
Vaigankar told TOI, “We have taken serious note of those coming from Maharashtra. To control the movement of villagers from across the border, instructions have been given to police officials to take action against violators of the lockdown.”
Monitor and if necessary, review decision, govt told
Sawant said all shops selling essential commodities will continue to be open, but people should refrain from venturing out.
“People should themselves follow lockdown in totality. If you come out from your homes, then there is a possibility that you will take back coronavirus and risk your family,” he said after a meeting with MLAs.
Sawant said during the meeting, BJP MLAs took the responsibility to start home delivery services in their respective constituencies.
The high court impressed upon the government the need to constantly monitor, supervise and if necessary review or recall its decisions if the situation at the ground level demands.
“If the experience suggests that there is necessity to revert to the earlier decision involving closure of all grocery shops, such decision will have to be taken and not avoided,” the court said.
Sawant said they have issued volunteer passes to panchayat members across 191 villages and councillors of 14 municipal councils including the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
“Besides these, we have also issued 20 volunteer passes to all MLAs to supply essential commodities to the public,” Sawant said.
Sawant said booth level officers (BLOs) of the respective wards have also been issued volunteer passes.
He said food packets of Rs 300, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 would be made and it would be distributed in constituencies.
Sawant said only bona fide residents would be allowed entry into the state through the borders after putting home quarantine stamp.
He said the government has established five quarantine centres in north Goa and four in south Goa and the virology lab has already begun operations.
“If any one comes across people with travel history, then people of that villages should inform authorities, so that he/she can be kept under home quarantine. Lots of people did not disclose their travel history,” he said.