Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar’s recent proposal to the Railways to introduce more local trains to Dudhsagar has created panic among the 400-odd tourist jeep operators who ferry tourists to the waterfalls. His announcement may have made tourists visiting Goa happy, but has not gladdened the locals.
Although Dudhsagar has featured in movies earlier, the number of tourists recently shot up, especially in the monsoon, after the release of the Shahrukh Khan- Deepika Padukone starrer Chennai Express. Operators fear that additional trains to Dudhsagar may not only dent their earnings but could end their business of ferrying tourists.
“We are worried about the passenger trains proposal put forth by the Tourism Minister as all jeep operators are from poor families and purchased jeeps after taking loans against gold. If the railways start operating and this continues after gthe monsoon we will lose our livelihood,” Dudhsagar tour operator President Dilip Maynekar.
People from Dharbandora taluka say any plans to increase tourists to Dudhsagar should involve locals who can improve their livelihood and generate employment among themselves as do shack owners and beachside hoteliers.
There are two routes to Dudhsagar – one through the forest and the other by rail. In the monsoon, Dudhsagar remains isolated as the forest route is not motorable. In order to attract tourists in the monsoon, Parulekar has made a proposal to have trains stop at Dudhsagar during the monsoon months. The railways had stopped passengers from alighting there due to instances of hooliganism, consumption of liquor and damage to railway property.
More than 2000 tourists come to Collem daily during the season to visit Dudhsagar. There are more than 431 tour operators in Collem who for eight months from October to May run their jeeps on rotation basis through the forest route to Dudhsagar with six passengers per jeep. The 15 kilometer journey along the forest route is rough and muddy allowing tourist to enjoy a jungle ride and wildlife till they reach the waterfall. They earn around Rs 2500 per trip.
Dharmand Naik of Dharbandora said youth were ferrying tourists to Dudhsagar on motorcycles along the railway track which was stopped by the government. The youth acted as guides to tourists. “They should be allowed to ferry tourists on motorcycles to Dudhsagar by allowing them through the forest route,” he said.
