New season at Dudhsagar waterfalls delayed further

Ponda: Although the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and Mollem forest officials were gearing up to start a new season at Dudhsagar waterfalls from Saturday, the jeep owners of the Dudhsagar Tour Operators’ Association (DTOA) resolved not to ply their vehicles until govt shuts down the corporation’s counter and return the portal back to the association.

While the Mollem forest officials were preparing the ‘kuccha’ road that takes tourists up to the Dudhsagar lake amid the deep forest in Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary at Collem village in Dharbandora taluka, the operators were busy with their meeting at their Collem office on Friday late afternoon.

The association blamed its former chairman for handing over the portal to the GTDC’s service provider from Ponda. The association was of the opinion that the GTDC’s additional charges has made the safari to Dudhsagar lake more expensive. They claim that since Jan this year, tourists have to pay Rs 257 extra only because of the GTDC service provider.

The association has been demanding that the counter be shut down and the bookings be brought back to earlier mode.

Considering this tussle, a joint meeting of all stakeholders was held at chief minister’s office on Tuesday. Taking into account the suggestions that came up during the meeting, GTDC was trying to start a new tourism season of Dudhsagar waterfall from Saturday, local MLA and chairman of GTDC Ganesh Gaonkar had told TOI.

The muddy road deep in the forest has two main streams to cross and the road washes away during the monsoon. The ‘kuccha’ road needs to be made motorable before allowing jeeps.