St Mathew’s Church parish priest Fr Britto Fernandes and Prof Ramrao Wagh along with youth present at the Azossim waterfall on Monday demanding ban on visitors.
OLD GOA
With rains, the waterfall at Aghadi-Azossim comes to life and its beauty attracts a lot of visitors to the place.
However, with the Covid pandemic prevailing, concerns have been raised over the crowd at Azossim, with the St Mathew’s Church parish priest Fr Britto Fernandes and Prof Ramrao Wagh fearing that if the activity goes unchecked it could lead in the spread of the virus not only in the locality but also among the visitors and their families.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Prof Wagh informed that on Sunday, a crowd of over 100 people thronged the place, even during the curfew, thereby throwing caution to the wind and also consuming alcohol at the waterfall site.
“The Covid pandemic is not over and authorities concerned like the North Goa collector, Azossim-Mandur panchayat and Agassaim police should initiate strict action in the matter and ban entry of the visitors to the waterfall for the safety of the people,” Wagh added.
He further appealed to the collector to issue orders, banning people from visiting waterfalls not only at Azossim but entire Goa to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
“If orders are issued by the Collector, then the police will have powers to control the crowds visiting the waterfalls,” Wagh stated.
Fr Fernandes said he does not have any problem with people coming and having a good time at the waterfall.
“However, with the pandemic prevailing, it is not an appropriate behaviour as there is high possibility of the virus spreading among the visitors and later taking it home among their families,” the priest said.
He appealed to people not to visit the waterfall not only for their own safety but for the safety of their families as well.
“In our church complex, we have a swimming pool but I do not allow even a single person to enter due to Covid. Even though I can make money, I am more concerned about the health and safety of the people,” Fr Fernandes said.
He further pointed out to the huge piles of empty alcohol bottles lying at the site of the waterfall which is spoiling the beauty of the place.
“The youth consume alcohol and probably drugs as well, and later they get involved in fights. After consuming alcohol, they leave behind a huge amount of thrash which spoils the natural beauty surrounding the waterfall,” the priest added and said that 95 percent of the people are from outside Azossim.
OLD GOA: The Agassaim police have made their presence felt at the entry points to the waterfall near the Azossim church since Sunday and have started taking action against those visiting the falls.
Wagh informed The Goan that since Sunday, the police have started patrolling the area and are sending back people who come to visit the waterfall.
When the media visited the waterfall on Monday evening, Agassaim cops sent back a group of youth from Marcela who were picnicking at the falls, but not before giving them punishment.
Meanwhile, parish priest Fr Britto Fernandes has appealed to the police to be extra vigilant as Sao Joao is going to be celebrated on Thursday.
“A huge number of visitors throng the waterfall during Sao Joao celebration and the police have to be on their toes that day,” Fr Fernandes said.
