Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Jun 3: In what can be called as a major relief for people working in Mangaluru and Kasragod, the district collector (DC) of Kasargod Dr D Sajith Babu has framed rules for inter-state movement of people.

It may be recalled, a serious inter-state dispute between Kerala and Karnataka arose in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak with Karnataka blocking its border with Kerala near Mangaluru apprehending that coronavirus-infected persons from Kasargod district in Kerala would enter the state and spread the epidemic. The Kerala High Court had directed the Centre to lift the blockade as it denied people access to health services, besides affecting the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of movement. Later, the Supreme Court’s direction helped to resolve the issue.

Kasargod DC Dr D Sajith Babu

Later, Kerala government had decided to seal border roads including forest pathways leading to Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu, in an attempt to check people travelling to the state from hotspots.

However, now with lockdown rules relaxed, movement of people between states is allowed. The following rules framed by district collector of Kasargod are applicable from Wednesday June 3 onwards.

1. People from Dakshina Kannada district who want to enter Kasargod district have to register themselves for emergency passes through COVID - 19 Jagratha portal. The reason, interstate travel on daily basis, has to be mentioned therein.

2. Within an hour of the receipt of the online application, additional district magistrate at Kasargod or divisional magistrate Kanhangad will pass order to issue passes.

3. The passes have a validity period of 28 days.

4. At the time of issuing the passes, the issuing authority has to mention to comply with the direction in the order of the district collector dated 02 - 06 - 2020 vide order No. 1331/2020/KL. Once the passes are provided the same have to be presented along with full details to Manjeshwar tahsildar who runs a camp near the check post. The person's name, address, phone number, date of entry, date of return etc need to be submitted there.

5. The pass number has to be serially entered in the register.

6. The daily commuters, on receipt of the passes, have to present themselves at the check post near Talapady, and offer themselves to COVID - 19 test being conducted by the medical team there. The team will conduct preliminary tests for symptoms of coronavirus infection with the help of instruments like thermal scanner. There is another counter by the side of this one where the commuters have to enter when going in and returning with date and signature.

The above processes are compulsory for entering Kasargod district and also for entering Dakshina Kannada district, an order from the DC said.