VALPOI
Police maintained strict vigil on picnickers and tourists arriving in Sattri on Sunday to enjoy the number of seasonal waterfalls in the lap of the Western Ghat.
The men-in-khaki are faced with an uphill task of ensuring that liquor and plastic bottles don’t reach the waterfalls as per a directive issued by Bicholim deputy collector. There is a complete ban on these items to maintain the sanctity and cleanliness of the waterfalls.
Waterfalls in different areas of the taluka are attraction for many. This has resulted in a large number of tourists flocking to these places and leaving behind their bad footprints in the form of plastic bottles and other types of wastes.
Angered by the non-sensitive tourists and picnickers, locals have time and again vented their ire and called for strict action against those dirtying the waterfalls.
On Sundays, hundreds of tourists were seen at waterfalls in Pali, Tharavale, Shelke and Hivre. Officials of the Valpoi police station and the excise department are on their toes checking vehicles for liquor bottles.
Valpoi police inspector Shivram Vaignakar said the police are maintaining a strict check on local as well as outstation vehicles on different roads in the taluka to ensure the ban is respected.
