Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Apr 25: Due to confusion over the land on which a Covid-19 check post of Kerala stood, joint survey work of the border between Karnataka and Kerala states, which had been abandoned many years ago, was resumed in a hurry on Thursday. During the survey, the officials found that three fourth of the land occupied by a petrol bunk that was a part of Karnataka for the last fifty years, has become part of Kerala.

The petrol pump was functioning at lower Talapady for the last several years. Nearly 40 buses plying between Mangaluru and Talapady were buying diesel under Karnataka rates. Bunk owners were paying taxes after obtaining license from Karnataka.

The confusion began after Talapady gram panchayat alleged that Kerala police and health department had set up a temporary Covid-19 check post on Karnataka land. As the district administrations of both the states directed their officials to conduct joint survey to settle the issue, the surveyors got busy conducting survey work during entire Thursday. But the survey proved costly for Karnataka.

The report states that the check post of Kerala police also is in their land. Survey work could have been avoided as it was only a temporary check post. Talapady citizens lament that they lost the land that was part of the village since several decades, on account of an issue which could have been easily sorted out without complications by the two states.