PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has taken cognisance of allegations that jeep trips to the Dudhsagar waterfalls are being operated and monetised by a private association, despite government rules mandating that the system be run by the State.
The observations came while hearing a writ petition filed by Ashok Khandeparkar, who challenged the manner in which trips to the popular tourist destination are being allotted and managed. Khandeparkar alleged that the Dudhsagar Tour Operators’ Association (DTOA) has been maintaining the trip roster and collecting money from permit holders without any legal authority.
He stated that there are 431 off-road vehicles registered with the association, of which only 240 trips are permitted per day. “The association charges Rs 20 per trip, which, given the volume of daily tours, results in the collection of a huge amount. Under government rules, the entire operation has to be carried out by the government, not by any association,” he submitted on Tuesday.
Further raising a grievance of discrimination, the petitioner alleged that despite holding a valid permit, he is being denied trips. “In the roster, my name is marked in red and my trips are allotted to others,” he submitted.
During the hearing, the State government admitted that the arrangement was wrong, conceding that the association has no authority to run the system or collect money for Dudhsagar jeep trips.
The writ petition has been filed against the State of Goa through its Chief Secretary, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the Deputy Conservator of Forests, the Chief Wildlife Warden, the Range Forest Officer, and the Dudhsagar Tour Operators’ Association. The High Court has posted the matter for further hearing after three weeks, on March 4.
The issue has also revived earlier tensions surrounding the online booking system for Dudhsagar tours. Last year, the DTOA in Collem had opposed the online booking mechanism by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation and its counter at the venue, demanding that the government hand over the control of the website booking.
