SANGUEM
The effects of an inordinate delay caused in the operation of jeeps at the Dudhsagar waterfalls has been felt not only by local jeep owners but also those operating small business establishments in Colem village.
Locals running business establishments such as tea shops, cold drinks, restaurants, fruit vendors and general stores have bitterly decried the failure of government authorities in resolving the row between the Goa tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the local jeep operators.
Due to a delay in getting the issue resolved, tourists have stopped visiting the village to see the Dudhsagar falls, leaving no customers for the local business owners.
“We run our establishments primarily from income generated from tourism activities and this has severely affected our daily income,” lamented a local business owner.
“It is high time the government resolves the issue at the earliest failing which, it will affect not only jeep owners but more importantly all of us running small businesses.”
There are a total of 431 jeep operators in the village associated with tourism activities in the village, besides another 90 employees engaged in distributing jackets to tourists.
In the meantime, with no public or formal announcement regarding the ongoing dispute between jeep operators and the GTDC, some tourists continue to visit the village in anticipation of having a glimpse of Dudhsagar waterfalls but have had to return disappointed.
Some tourists have suggested that authorities make some announcement on social media over the present imbroglio at the Dudhsagar waterfalls, so that tourists do not waste their time, money and effort in visiting the village, only to be disappointed.
