PONDA: The initiative by Collem villagers to stop tourists and visitors from taking bath in Dudhsagar River, has led to frequent altercations in the area.
Tourists visit the site to enjoy the spot and to take bath; however, locals complain that tourists have become a nuisance as they pollute the river water, which the locals use for domestic and agriculture purpose.
Hundreds of tourists arrive at Collem on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for sightseeing and taking bath in the river. However, the locals complain that, the visitors and tourists pollute the river by throwing in garbage and plastic wastes, which reach their homes through the water supply lines.
Annoyed at the situation, last Sunday and Saturday, the villagers drove away the tourists from river and also warned them not to return.
Ankush Naik, a local, appealed to the visitors from Goa and tourists not to visit the site as they are dependent on the river for their domestic needs.
Locals fear health hazard due to dumping of garbage and waste into the river.
