Team Herald
PONDA: The jeep operators under the Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association (DTOA) are set to go on a hunger strike from Saturday to protest against the government for failing to find a solution to the vexatious online registration row for almost two weeks now.
The operators are calling for the government to shut down the GTDC online booking counter, claiming that it has reduced their customer base due to a steep hike in booking fees. At the same time, they are demanding that the government return their booking website to them, allowing them to start online bookings at a nominal rate of Rs 30.
It may be recalled that the rain-delayed season was officially declared to have started on 19 October however the ongoing dispute between the 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, Mollem and Collem panchayats.
The locals here heavily depend on toruism for their daily bread are deeply affected as their businesses including hotels, tea stalls and others have suffered significant losses. With curtains coming down on mining activities for almost over a decade, Dudhsagar tourism was the only ray of hope for the villagers here, but that too has hit a roadblock.
They have stated that until it is shut down, they will not ferry tourists to the Dudhsagar waterfall.
Following this, after the Chief Minister's intervention, the fee was reduced by Rs. 100; however, the Jeep operators are not prepared to commence the season and are insisting on their demand until the government hands back their online booking website.