Team Herald
PONDA: The ongoing dispute between jeep operators and GTDC over online booking issues, has delayed the tourism at Dudhsagar falls in Collem, thereby dampening the Diwali spirit in the Shigao, Collem and Mollem panchayats.
The locals, heavily reliant on tourism for their livelihoods, are deeply affected as their businesses, including hotels, tea stalls, and meal-serving establishments, have suffered significant losses.
With mining-dependent activities also closed for a decade, Dudhsagar tourism was their only hope, but it too has encountered challenges.
The locals are desperately waiting for a resolution between the jeep operators and GTDC to revive tourism and bring back the festive cheer.
There are around 6000 people in Collem, Shigao and Mollem as most earn their livelihood from Tourism activities have come to a grinding halt and these people are desperately waiting for jeep operators and GTDC to find a solution at earliest.
Locals said that during Diwali, the area usually sees a surge in tourists, but this year, they have been left disappointed and have not contributed to the local economy.
In the past, the tourism season at Dudhsagar was at its peak during the Diwali and Christmas holidays when jeep trips were increased to meet demand. There are 431 jeep operators registered with the Forest Department to ferry tourists to the waterfall. It is pertinent to note that daily 230 jeeps are permitted, but during Diwali season 2,000 to 3,000 tourists used to throng Collem and the authorities were forced to increase the number of trips by 260 to 270 daily with each jeep ferrying around seven passengers.
However, this year, Collem has worn a deserted look as tourism has halted.
The season was expected to start in October but got delayed due to rain.
However, it officially commenced on October 19, and came to a grinding halt due to tussle between jeep operators and GTDC.
Jeep operators claimed that the exorbitant fees in online booking have reduced their customers. Following Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s intervention, the GTDC reduced the booking fees by Rs 100. However, the jeep operators demanded that the GTDC stop the bookings and hand over the charge of handling the website to carry out booking at normal rates.
GTDC Chairman Ganesh Gaonkar clarified that online booking by the government is to streamline these tourism activities and facilitate tourists all over the world.