Boat rides to be resumed soon in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: The boat lovers in Krishna river have to wait for some more time to have a joyful boat ride to complete the draft rules and regulations related to boat operations and safety of boat passengers. After the death of nearly 30 boat passengers in Godavari river in September two months ago, the State government had suspended the boat operations abruptly. Since then, the boat lovers could not enjoy the ride in Krishna river.

As per the new rules framed by the government, the boat drivers have to undergo test and take certificate from the government. The examination will be held in Kakinada on December 10. The government decided to set up nine control rooms to monitor the movement of boats in the big rivers and tourism places. Teams will be set up with the staff and officials from the departments of tourism, revenue, police, Disaster Management and Water Resources.

The teams will be headed by tahsildar level officer in the respective control rooms. Boating is one of the important recreations for the common people in the state. Hundreds of boat operators and workers are eking out livelihood on the 300 boats operated by private organisations and individuals and 54 boats operated by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).

The government had taken a tough stand in view of two major boat disasters took place in two rivers in three years period. The two mishaps in Krishna and Godavari rivers claimed 50 lives. Now, the State government has firmly decided to check such disasters and issue licence to the drivers after conducting tests.

A senior official in APTDC said it will take nearly two months to resume the boating in Krishna river and other places in the state. Till then, the APTDC lose its revenue. In Krishna district, the APTDC gets revenue to the tune of Rs 70 lakh to Rs 1 crore in the festival seasons like Dasara, Diwali and Karthika Masam.