Vijayawada: Godavari River authorities will soon permit operation of boats for visiting Papikondalu, a popular tourist destination.
An indication to this effect was given by Godavari River conservator R. Kasi Visweswara Rao. “We are checking out the route that will have sufficient depth of water and will be the safest. Boat operators will have to ensure that they do not deviate from this route. We are examining various parameters and will issue permission to operate the boats soon,” the conservator disclosed.
Private tourism boat operators have requested AP government that it permit them to operate their boats on Godavari River during the ongoing festival season and take tourists to Papikondalu. They have suggested that a river route map could be decided by maintaining the water at 30 metres of Polavaram Project’s spill level.
As Godavari River had witnessed floods early this season, authorities had suspended operation of tourism boats from the last week of June to avoid any untoward incidents. This has been a sort of dampener for tourists from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Generally, boats start operating to Papikondalu before Dasara. They continue their operations beyond Karthika Masam, Sankranti festival and summer vacations. Weekends are the busiest.
Tourism boat operators say they have been getting a lot of online queries from tourists belonging to both the Telugu states for advance booking seats to Papikondalu. But they have been unable to accept them, as they do not know when the state government will allow them to ply their boats.
Authorities used to give permission for plying tourism boats with water level being at 28 metres of spill level at Polavaram Project. But this year, Godavari has been witnessing continuous floods following rainfall in its catchment areas. As a result, boat operators have requested authorities to raise the level by two metres to 30-metre spill level, saying sailing at this level in the river will not jeopardise the safety of tourists.
Tourism boat owner Raja Viswanath Kumar said, “We operate boats on Godavari River for seven to eight months in a year during the festival season. Any curbs imposed on operation of boats due to floods or mishaps will affect our source of income. Moreover, we have to pay wages to our staff throughout the year, irrespective of our business. Non-operation of boats leads to a financial burden on us. We appeal to the state government that it permit operation of boats on Godavari River as early as possible.”
Infographics:
I) Nearly 35 tourism boats operate from Gandi Pochamma and Pochavaram to Papikondalu from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm on a day.
2) Boat operators charge ₹1,000 per head from Gandi Pochamma to Papikondalu and ₹950 per head from Pochavaram to Papikondalu.
3) APTDC is planning to hike user charges to ₹100 per head. But boat operators want them pegged at ₹50 as there have been no tourists so far.
4) Operators hope boat operations to Papikondalu will be allowed from October 26.
