VALPOI
Concerned about recent deaths and rise in Covid cases, the forest department has prohibited people from visiting waterfalls in Sattari taluka.
According to forest officials, two persons from Vasco recently died near a waterfall in the Chorla Ghat area.
“Taking serious note of this, forest officials issued a no-entry notice for visitors at these waterfalls. Hence, visitors will not be allowed in these areas,” said Madhei Wildlife Range Forest Officer Narayan Prabhudesai.
“Earlier too, people were prohibited from visiting these waterfalls, but many people would illegally visit these waterfalls as they were permitted to visit the vicinity but not the waterfall.”
“Following the two deaths, the forest department has decided not to permit any visitor to areas around waterfalls,” said Prabhudesai.
He informed that people have been prohibited from visiting the Satre waterfall since the last one year.
“However, a large number of people have been seen visiting this waterfall since the last six months, especially during the weekends,” said Prabhudesai.
“Following a recent rise in Covid cases, there was a demand from the local Nagargao panchayat to ban the visit of people to the Satre waterfall as such visits could lead to a rise in Covid cases in the taluka.”
“Responding to the panchayat’s demand, the forest department has also banned the visit of people to the Satre waterfall.”
When contacted, Nagargao Sarpanch Prashant Marathe said residents in the village had raised concerns about large numbers of people visiting the waterfall.
“The panchayat then wrote to the forest department to ban people from visiting the Satre waterfall. We appeal to people not to visit this area till further directions,” said Marathe.
