As per reports, on Sunday (16th July) there was chaos and a riot-like situation at Dudhsagar since more than a thousand tourists had alighted from trains and even trekked to visit the famed waterfall. A few days before this the Goa government had banned visits to waterfalls because of two incidents of fatal drowning at Mainapi waterfall at Netravali.
This much required step of debarring visits must have been taken in good faith by the government to safeguard the people. Despite the presence of Railway Protection Force and local police to preempt any infringement of the order, people pelted stones and a constable was injured. Having issued the ban order, the government could have published an advisory in national newspapers and posted in social media so that visitors would have been aware and either cancelled or changed their trip to Dudhsagar.
Now, and perhaps after considering certain criteria, the government has permitted visits to 14 ‘safe’ waterfalls across the State. Hope that preventive measures are in place to avoid more fiascos. For those people who want to play safe, they could always marvel the several ‘waterfalls’ gushing out at high speed from the outlet pipes of the newly built flyover onto the service road at Agassaim! We can produce hydroelectricity if turbines are installed below these ‘waterfalls!’
