Ponda: After the advisory issued by the forest department on Saturday about the presence of a tiger in the protected area of Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary and national park, jeep operators at Dudhsagar falls are worried their business may take a hit.
While jeep transportation is currently allowed, the forest department has halted trekking within the sanctuary, soon after it received evidence of tiger movement in the area.
Jeep operators are of the opinion that creating awareness in the village may lead to panic among tourists. “If the government starts creating awareness over public address system and if it is heard by tourists, they may run away, leading to a dip in our business,” said Dilip Mairekar, chairman of the Dudhsagar Tour Operators’ Association. Additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF) Santosh Kumar has rejected the possibility of any restrictions on the jeep business. He said the animals normally keep a distance from vehicular noise so there is no need for jeep operators to worry unless they provoke any wild animal.
“We have found pug marks of the tiger near water bodies at Karanzol. The tiger is a fully grown adult,” Kumar, who is also the chief wildlife warden, told TOI.
Collem sarpanch Gangaram Lambor was surprised over the forest department’s advisory to Mollem village panchayat instead of Collem panchayat since the Karanzol area where the tiger has spotted comes under its jurisdiction.
While jeep transportation is currently allowed, the forest department has halted trekking within the sanctuary, soon after it received evidence of tiger movement in the area.
Jeep operators are of the opinion that creating awareness in the village may lead to panic among tourists. “If the government starts creating awareness over public address system and if it is heard by tourists, they may run away, leading to a dip in our business,” said Dilip Mairekar, chairman of the Dudhsagar Tour Operators’ Association. Additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF) Santosh Kumar has rejected the possibility of any restrictions on the jeep business. He said the animals normally keep a distance from vehicular noise so there is no need for jeep operators to worry unless they provoke any wild animal.
“We have found pug marks of the tiger near water bodies at Karanzol. The tiger is a fully grown adult,” Kumar, who is also the chief wildlife warden, told TOI.
Collem sarpanch Gangaram Lambor was surprised over the forest department’s advisory to Mollem village panchayat instead of Collem panchayat since the Karanzol area where the tiger has spotted comes under its jurisdiction.
