The beautiful waterfalls of Sattari and pristine places are slowly turning dangerous for genuine nature lovers and families, due to alcohol, plastic and nuisance, says locals. In Sattari, there are around 13 waterfalls. They are Saleli, Keri, Morle, Koparde, Pali, Charavane, Hivre, Nanoda, Sirguli, Bambar, Brahmakarmali, Shelpe and Chorla Ghat waterfalls. And all this are monsoon waterfalls. All this waterfalls are located in Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. Every weekend almost thousands plus picnickers and trekkers are visiting these waterfalls. Once upon a time, people were unaware about the scenic beauty and serene environment of Sattari. For the past five years onwards the picnickers and trekkers has started visiting on waterfalls, in large numbers. Now the picnickers and trekkers are throwing plastic, plastic bottles everywhere in forest area, breaking alcohol bottles all over waterfalls places and making a general nuisance.

All the Panchayat members and villagers have complained and urged the authorities to take action. So this time, all the concerned authorities will take strict action against picnickers and trekkers who are making nuisances. “In our Nagargao Panchayat, there are four waterfalls, so we hold a meeting with Valpoi police station, Police Inspector, Excise official and Round forest officer of Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. During the course of the meeting, we have requested them to ban alcohol and plastic on waterfalls places. We have also written a letter to the traffic cell Bicholim requesting them to depute some staff at waterfalls places, to control the traffic situation. Beside this, we also requested Mhadei wildlife officer Prakash Salelkar to install some more dustbins at waterfalls spots” says Parag Khadilkar, Sarpanch of Nagargao Panchayat. 

The Deputy Collector of Bicholim has issued an order prohibiting alcohol and plastic at the waterfalls. This was due to the practice of picnickers breaking  alcohol bottles all over the waterfalls place.

On last Friday, the Deputy Collector, Bicholim held a joint meeting with the Sattari Mamlatdar, Valpoi PI, Excise Inspector and the Forest officials, and have decided not to allow the alcohol and plastic at waterfalls like Chorla Ghat, Hivrem, Charavane, and Brahmakarmali as all this waterfalls comes under the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

“We will depute police personnel at every waterfalls of Taluka on weekends and on public holidays. Besides this we will depute the major police force at Chorla Ghat. Anyone who is a nuisance will be dealt with” says Shivram Vaigankar, Police Inspector Valpoi.

“We will keep the forest officials at every waterfall and will compulsory check every visitor and we will now allow plastic items in waterfalls areas”. Said Jeffery D'Silva, RFO Valpoi.