Team Herald
PONDA: As tourist trips to Dudhsagar waterfall are set to resume after the monsoon break on October 2, controversy surrounds the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) counter at Collem, which operates through a service provider. Two days ago, jeep operators expressed opposition to the counter in a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. On Sunday, the Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) of the Collem Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association turned stormy with allegations of a Rs 8 crore scam linked to the website operations managed by the service provider. The operators claim that an extra Rs 257 per person is charged, but there are no proper accounts, leading to suspicions of financial malpractice.
During the AGM, association president Nilesh Velip alleged that the website used by the Dudhsagar Jeep Tour Association was handed over to the GTDC by former president Ashok Khandeparkar without consulting the members. Velip demanded the return of the website to the association, offering to pay any taxes required by the government. He also requested a probe by CM Pramod Sawant into the alleged scam and demanded the closure of the GTDC counter.
Velip pointed out that over one lakh tourists visited last season, generating over Rs 8 crore in revenue through website bookings, but only a sum of Rs 34 lakh was deposited in the government’s account. He urged the Chief Minister to investigate the discrepancy and ensure the website's control is returned to the association.
The jeep operators remain united, with 431 members electing Velip and his committee, who are determined to present their demands to the CM and MLAs. Velip expressed confidence in CM Sawant to resolve the issue before the season starts on October 2.