PONDA: To keep up with the rising number of visitors, Dudhsagar jeep operators have demanded that at least 300 jeeps be permitted to ferry tourists to the waterfall. In the last week, many tourists had to return without visiting the falls due to lack of vehicles, while tour operators lost revenue.
Tribolo Souza, vice president of the Dudhsagar Tour Operators’ Association (DTOA), stated that the government had publicized the waterfall a lot, and the recent commencement of the tourism season and Diwali vacation had resulted in a large number of tourists visiting the site. However, he added, no proper arrangements had been made to ferry them.
DTOA has around 430 registered jeeps, but the forest department permits only 225 to ferry tourists to the waterfalls. Additionally, each jeep can seat only seven individuals.
Souza stated that DTOA had requested the Wildlife Board to increase the number of jeeps, but as the Board wasn’t meeting, their request is still pending. He claimed that in the last few days, over 2,000 tourists returned without seeing the waterfall due to lack of jeeps.
The tourists who are unable to visit the waterfall usually gather at the forest gate at Collem, where the jeep service starts, and create a ruckus. The police and forest officials often have to step in to diffuse the situation.
