Plying of Tourism Boats to Papikondalu Suspended Due to Inclement Weather

 Vijayawada: The operation of tourism boats on the Godavari river, from Gandi Pochamma ferry point to Papikondalu, has been suspended from December 19 due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Rampachodavaram sub-collector K.R. Kalpashree issued a notice on Wednesday stating that, as the depression in the South Bay of Bengal was expected to intensify and the low pressure system was likely to move towards Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, there would be thunderstorms, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall in the Godavari river area from Thursday onwards. As a precautionary measure, all boating activities have been suspended.

The sub-collector also called for close monitoring to ensure no boats are deployed on the Godavari river, as per the control room staff's directions.

Meanwhile, boat operators have raised concerns, stating that according to the norms, they can operate boats unless the water level exceeds 30 metres with a discharge of five lakh cusecs at the Polavaram project. They noted that the current water discharge is less than one lakh cusecs and questioned why their boats are not allowed to operate, especially during the festive season. They argue that only heavy rainfall in the catchment areas would significantly raise the river’s water level, and short local rainfall would not cause alarming increases.

Operators have expressed that the uncertainty surrounding boat operations on the Godavari to Papikondalu will negatively affect tourism and have called for state government intervention to properly assess weather forecasts and river conditions before imposing such restrictions.