The waterfall areas of Sattari are slowly turning into garbage hubs. Last week, officials of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary held a garbage collection drive in the region. With the help of local boys, they collected 1.5 tons of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste from Hivrem waterfall, Charvane waterfall, Pali and Shigne. This is the current state of affairs despite Goa police, the excise department and forest department keeping a strict vigil in the sanctuary.
“The problem with these waterfall areas is that they have no specific access route. Many visitors reach these sites with the help of locals, so it becomes difficult to trace them. We started this garbage collection drive last week as we managed to secure funds. With the help of local boys, we collected beer bottles and cans, plastic plates and polythene bags. We then weighed the garbage, segregated it at the site and sent it to the Sankhali municipality,” said Paresh Parab, Range Forest Officer (RFO), adding that they were planning a similar garbage collection drive at Naneli, Kumthol, Bramhkarmali and other parts of the sanctuary.
When questioned about the rise in visitors and the large quantity of liquor bottles found, Parab said, “Nowadays, people have mobility and are well aware of such locations. Besides, there has been an increasing trend of alcohol consumption – mainly hard liquor – in the last four years or so. It could be due to an increase in the purchasing power of society.”
He further stated that there was a system in place to stop people from littering in forest areas. He said, “We have placed dustbins and signs with images at some waterfall locations. Garbage collection drives are also carried out by various trekking groups of Goa. Additionally, on the weekend, there is a meeting of Goa Police, the Excise department and Valpoi forest officials; the staffs of these departments are deputed to various known entry points. However, visitors managed to enter with plastic and alcohol as they are accompanied by villagers, who know other paths.”
Parab also suggested that all wildlife sanctuaries in Goa be declared alcohol-free zones. He stated, “After this declaration, we will have the power to book people who carry and consume alcohol in any sanctuary. Right now we can’t book them.”
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife and Ecotourism) Anil Kumar informed that the forest department was in the process of sending a proposal to declare wildlife sanctuaries as alcohol-free zones. He added, “We are still working in that direction. Last year Chorla Ghat was declared a plastic-free zone, and we were quite successful in this initiative with help from the Excise Department and Goa Police. Now, we are cleaning popular spots on Saturday and Sunday.”
