CANACONA: Paying “entry tax” or “additional tax” without any receipts has a whole new connotation at the Pollem check-post at the Karnataka Goa border, at Canacona in the southernmost tip of Goa. This is the point through which road travellers from Karnataka (and beyond) enter Goa. Tourists and others, subjected to “unnecessary fines” and “harassment, point out a rather interesting phenomenon.
At the police check post in Pollem, tourist and commercial vehicles entering Goa are cleared by the staff posted there after checking. Then they are stopped again a few hundred metres away and ‘fined’ for flimsy reasons, allege local Canconkars.
According to the locals, this sends a wrong signal to tourists, who come to enjoy in Goa.
“What is the logic in issuing these fines barely 500 mts away from the check post, when you already have staff checking you at the check port?” asked Kalpesh Gaonkar from Canacona.
He argued that instead of deploying additional staff just to collect the fines, it would be better to equip the check post and officials posted there to do their work properly.
“Why can’t the vehicle entering Goa be checked thoroughly at the check post, instead of stopping a short distance later for another round of checking?” asked Gaonkar.
Locals also questioned the functioning of the Department of Transport, especially at its check post at Pollem.
“Why should the vehicle be stopped again after crossing the check post where it can be properly inspected by officers of the rank of Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors,” said Prasad Kankonkar.
He called for an immediate stop to this harassment of people visiting Goa as it sends a wrong signal to visitors who come to Goa given it is a tourist destination.
said.
Besides, the fact that Police as well as RTO officials, very often group together to issue challans implies that this is nothing but means of harassing people to satisfy their sadistic cravings, instead of implementing the law.
However, Tikam Singh Verma (IPS), SDPO Canacona explained that challans cannot be issued at the check post because an officer of the rank authorised to do so is not posted there.
While mentioning that they are short-staffed, the SDPO however assured that an officer authorised to issue challans will be posted at the Pollem check post soon. (See the box on this IPS officer's explanations and Herald’s questions after that)
Further, he said the mobile traffic enforcement team keeps moving at different places and is not static at any given spot.
“This team is also stationed at the check post at times to ensure that those entering our State adhere to the laws of the land,” said SDPO Tikam Singh.