Visakhapatnam: A riot of colour was witnessed over the skyline as the second edition of the three-day Araku Balloon Festival got off to a rousing start on Friday.
Experienced pilots from 15 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, France, Malaysia, Belgium, US, Italy, Brazil and Switzerland are taking part in the event to fly all 20 balloons over the Araku Valley.
Elaborate arrangements have been made for the visitors. The AP Tourism Department and E-Factor’s SkyWaltz, an adventure tourism company, are jointly organising the festival. Though the balloons can go beyond 5,000 feet high, air traffic regulations restrict their flight only to a height of 2,500 feet above the ground.
More than 4,000 persons have registered online to fly in the colourful hot-air balloons. However, the government has provided the opportunity to only 210 persons, selected through a draw of lots.
The participants can view the spectacular greenery of Araku Valley from the balloons. Meanwhile, the state CPM leadership has strongly criticised the government for spending crores of rupees on a three-day event.
The CPM leaders have alleged that the tourism department spent Rs 10 crore on this event, but the state government has no funds for the tribal welfare. They also criticised the government for fixing the cost of each ticket at Rs 3,000.
CPM state committee member K. Surendra said that an ordinary man cannot afford to attend the Balloon Festival. These tourism events are conducted by the government only to attract the VIP guests and to satisfy them, he said.
Mr Surendra added: “We are not against to tourism activities but what is the use of an event if the guests cannot find water. The government should first provide basic drinking water facilities to the tribals.”
He said that in case of any mishap during the event, there was no proper hospital in the nearby areas.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had earlier adopted Pedalabudu village in Visakha Agency area, where there is a 100-bed hospital but only six doctors are available out of 15 specialists, Mr Surendra said.
