PONDA: Tension prevailed at Mollem check post on TUesday night at around 8.30pm after locals noticed around 200 vehicles queued up on both sides of check post on the Goa-Karnataka border.
Following this locals gathered at the check post and asked the authorities and police to keep a check on the flow of traffic.
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Locals said besides goods trucks, ore transporting trucks were also entering Goa from Hospet, Karnataka. These trucks after unloading the ore on their return journey were travelling via the Mollem border as it is shorter route to Karnataka.
These mining truck drivers numbering around hundred were being checked on the Mollem border by the police and health officials which led to serpantine queues along the road.
Many drivers were seen in the Mollem Bazaar besides some cooked food inside the trucks without even wearing masks which created fear among the locals whose houses are situated on the National Highway.
The locals in a complaint to the Mollem Sarpanch, said they are scared of truck drivers who are entering Goa from COVID-affected Belgavi and Karnataka and wanted a proper control over the drivers without allowing them to gather in large numbers on the Mollem border.
Traffic from Karnataka to Goa has increased several times during the past couple of days with large number of vehicles especially goods transporting trucks entering and exiting via the Mollem check post.
The locals also questioned the authorities and police for allowing large number of vehicles from Karnataka where the COVID positive cases are on the rise.
Collem Sarpanch Mani Lambore, Mollem Sarpanch Snehalata Naik also visited the spot.
Mollem locals also submitted a memorandum to the Sarpanch to keep a check on the rising number of trucks. The locals said they are not against the transportation of essential commodities but there should be proper control on transportation without endangering the life of the locals from Mollem and Collem.
Meanwhile, Tambdi Surla locals also expressed fear over Karnataka locals travelling to Goa via the forest route at Tambdi Surla.
Locals demanded that the government should seal the gate of Bhagwan Wildlife Sanctuary located at Bolkarne to prevent the entry and exit of Karnataka locals during the lockdown as Corona positive cases are on the rise in Karnataka.
