PONDA: At its meeting held on Monday, the Goa State Wildlife Board accepted the report prepared by officials about the carrying about the carrying capacity of Dudhsagar
circuit, following which, it was resolved to allow only 240 jeeps per day.
These jeeps ferry the tourists through the Bhagwan Mahavir sanctuary to Dudhsagar waterfalls at Collem.
The report raised concerns about disturbance caused to wild animals and how a high number of jeep trips causes greater disturbance.
However, this news sent ripples across Collem and not only amongst the jeep operators but other tourism stakeholders of the area too like shop owners, hoteliers and other commercial establishments. They have pointed out that their livelihood is dependent on tourists, public visiting Dudhsagar waterfalls.
They have now appealed to the State government and Wildlife Board to review its decision and relax the restrictions on the number of trips. They stress that 340 jeeps should be allowed per day and not 240. Locals add that they know the importance of wild life and are not against it but reiterate that they should be provided some relief as their livelihoods are at stake.
It is to be noted that there are around 431 jeeps, which have been registered with the Forest Department. Locals point out that many of them will be forced to remain idle if the restrictions come to force. Some of the jeep operators lamented that many of them have taken loans to purchase the jeeps and that they would be left in financial ruin as they have not yet cleared these loans.
“If the government wanted to curtail the number of jeeps, then why did it encourage locals to buy more jeeps,” a jeep operator questioned.
During the peak season, the footfalls are very high at the popular tourist attraction spot.
The president of Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association Dilip Maynekar has emphasized that 340 per day, should be permitted and that if the same cannot be provided throughout the year, then at least during the peak season. He feared that tourists who visit during this period will return disappointed and this will gradually lead to a dip in numbers and thereby causing further losses to their business. He warned that if the number of tourists decreases because of this, it will cause problems as only half of the present number of jeeps would be needed.
“Besides us, there are other shop owners, hotel owners and locals who are completely dependent on Dudhsagar waterfalls. From ferrying tourists to providing the services to the tourists, we have no other business in this wildlife sanctuary. We should meet PWD Minister and Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pauskar and BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar on this issue,” he added.
Collem Sarpanch Manish Lambore concurred with the tourism stakeholders and explained that the tourism season operates for seven months only as it is closed for the remaining five months due to the rains.
“Whatever we earn during the seven-month-long season, is used to sustain ourselves for the entire year. Locals are not against wild life. We only request that the government should at least permit 340 jeeps during the peak season, “he added.
He added that the peak season is during the months of November to January and also during public holidays such as Diwali and Christmas to New Year, where thousands of tourists want to check out Dudhsagar waterfall.
He further suggested that the jeeps, which begin ferrying tourists at 8.30 am, starts at 7.30 am instead, in order to provide more time and allow more jeeps.
