Team Herald
VALPOI: In a memorandum to Deputy Collector Mangaldas Gaonkar, Nagargao villagers have demanded a ban on tourists from visiting the waterfall in the village due to COVID pandemic.
It is pertinent to note that the Nagargao waterfall attracts massive gatherings of tourists during monsoon.
The delegation led by panch Parag Khadilkar submitted a memorandum
to Deputy Collector Mangaldas Gaonkar.
“This small waterfall in this tiny village located around 45 kms from the capital city attracts many visitors between July and October during monsoon. The overflowing water from the hillocks turns into the waterfall at more than 10 locations,” said panch Parag Khadilkar.
He said, “Our villagers have decided not to allow any tourists in our village as due to COVID pandemic. We don’t know, who is infected and these tourists may spread the virus in the village. In the past, the visitors have been unruly as they come here to consume alcohol and later break these bottles in the water and dump the garbage in forest area”.
Deputy Collector Mangaldas Gaonkar confirmed receiving the memorandum from Nagargao villagers for not allowing any tourists in their village due to COVID pandemic.
“I convened a meeting with the departments such as Forest, Police, PWD and Electricity and discussed the problems pertaining to monsoon. Regarding tourists visiting the waterfalls in Sattari, picnics are banned due to COVID pandemic. I have instructed the PI and Forest Department to keep their officials at the spot on Saturdays and Sundays to prevent any tourist from visiting the waterfall”, Gaonkar added.
