PONDA: Even as the government has declared touting in public places as a ‘nuisance’, touts have been reportedly exploiting visitors to Dudhsagar falls. Around 30 to 40 touts charge the tourists nothing less than Rs 1,500 to 2,000 over online booking while the original charges are just Rs 500.
The State government, to make the trip convenient for the visitors, started the online booking system. However, some locals are manipulating the system, they pre-book jeeps at Rs 500 and then charge exorbitant rates to the tourists.
As per the rates decided by the Forest Department, every visitor has to pay Rs 500 for a jeep, Rs 100 as fee of the forest department and Rs 40 for the jacket provided by the local panchayat. However, the visitors have to pay around Rs 1500-2,000 in black market given the fact that there is a heavy rush to the Falls.
“Around 30 locals for the last few days are looting tourists over online platforms. They charge them much more than the rates decided by the Forest Department. This will stop only when the authorities allow the number of jeeps. We have gathered the information on those fleecing the tourists and will file a police complaint soon,” said Ashpok Khandeparkar, chairman of Dudhsagar Tour Operators.
