Journalism of Courage
THIS Diwali has brought some good news for tourists visiting the scenic hill station of Mahabaleshwar. From November 4, they will no longer have to pay entry fee at eight different places. Instead one central location for fee collection will be decided at a meeting of the municipal council and the forest department officials on November 4.
[related-post]
Mahabaleshwar is at least 120 kms away from Pune. Tourists often enjoy Mahabaleshwar in a one-day trip. However, there have been an increasing number of complaints from tourists on the entry fees levied at several places. The forest department collects entry fee at some selected points. Tourists have to pay Rs 10 each to visit Venna lake, Pratapgadh fort, Lingmala water falls and other attractions. Apart from this, the Mahabaleshwar municipal council also charges a pollution tax of Rs 20 per individual and Rs 50 per vehicle.
A government resolution of March 2012 allowed the collection of entry fee by the forest department at various points at the hill station. When contacted, M N Mohite, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Satara, told the Indian Express that tourists had complained about the multiple fee collection points and hence a decision was taken to just keep a central point. The fee will also be brought down from Rs 50 to Rs 20. Sachin Pawar, chief officer of the Mahabaleshwar municipal council, also said that they had received complaints from tourists.
With an annual footfall of 17-18 lakh tourists, the forest department collects an approximate Rs 50 lakh each year (since 2012) and the municipal council earns Rs 3.21 crore from the pollution and tourist tax.
At the Venna Lake point, both the municipal council and the forest department have their counters and charge entry fees. “We have agreed to set up one collection point and now will work on where to set up the booth,” Pawar said. He added there would, however, be no change in the amount collected as pollution tax as it was essential to keep the hill station clean.
