Team Herald
PONDA: Amidst tense moments and a hunger strike by jeep operators, tourism at Dudhsagar Falls began in offline mode on Saturday.
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It was yet another instance of local transport operators being bullish against any online conveniences for tourists, which they enjoy in every other part of the world.
This effectively meant that those tourists who could book online tours to the Dudhsagar Falls, one of Goa’s most magnificent sights from the convenience of their phones and other devices were not able to do so.
On the other hand, the GTDC wants tourism at Dudhsagar Falls via online mode to streamline tourism.
The members of the jeep operators committee commenced their hunger strike protesting against online bookings by Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), demanding control of the booking website. However, tension rent the air, after a few jeeps started ferrying the tourists to the Dudhsagar Falls. It is learnt that these tourists had booked their tickets online at the GTDC counter.
Soon after, the jeep operators gathered in large numbers at Collem Bazaar to support their committee members on hunger strike and rushed to stop the jeeps from ferrying tourists to the waterfall.
Following the tension, Deputy Collector Nilesh Diagodkar and a posse of the Collem Police rushed to spot to maintain law and order. The jeep operators questioned the Deputy Collector how the jeeps were allowed to ferry tourists without formal inauguration.
Following a supposed intervention by former MP Vinay Tendulkar and “discussion” with the Chief Minister, the Forest Department held a formal function, allowing offline tourist transport for the day. Around 903 stranded tourists finally visited the waterfall.
The ongoing tussle has been going on since October 19.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday met with Dudhsagar Jeep operators and promised to reduce the GTDC online booking fees by Rs 200.
According to sources, the booking website and online counter will be handed back to the operators within a month, allowing them to register for GST. Until then, government staff will conduct online booking at the GTDC counter.
The jeep operators are expected to resume Dudhsagar tourism from tomorrow and end their hunger strike.
