CANACONA: The villages of Gaondongrem and Cotigao have proposed a ban on entry of outside revellers, given that the rejuvenated waterfalls are a popular attraction during the monsoon.
The two village panchayats have written to the authorities to ban entry of outsiders in the village who otherwise come in hoards to enjoy the bliss of the seasonal waterfalls like Bamonbuddo, Bupara in Gaondongrem and Kuske waterfall in Cotigao.
In a memorandum submitted recently to the Deputy Collector, Mamlatdar and the Police Inspector of Canacona, the panchayats have expressed their concerns that picnickers coming from outside their village could unknowingly spread the virus and thus have demanded a ban on people visiting these annual waterfalls for at least this season.
It may be recalled that since last couple of years a strong pose of police personnel were deputed at the entry points to the villages which host these waterfalls.
The panchayat bodies that time had complained of revellers creating nuisance in the vicinity under the influence of alcohol while also breaking glass bottles and leaving their synthetic waste behind.
Worried over the COVID-19 pandemic in the State, the villagers of Gaondongrem and Cotigao fear that entry of outsiders for picnics and trekking will lead to rise in cases.
Kust Gaonkar, Deputy Sarpanch of Gaondongrem said that the villagers have thought of this as a precautionary measure and this will help the villagers live in peace during these difficult times.
“We already have two cases in the village and we don’t want to add more,” he said.
Another local informed that earlier the authorities after listening to the woes of the villagers had banned liquor consumption and plastic in the waterfall areas.
“We hope the administration will take our fresh demand into consideration” he added.
