VIJAYAWADA: Punnami Ghat on the banks of the Krishna, from where the private boat which capsized on Sunday started its journey, wore a deserted look on the last Monday of Karthika Masam.
The boat was operated by River Boating and Adventures Partners.
The turnout on Monday near the ghat was poor compared to other days as majority of the locals and tourists are still gripped with fear in the aftermath of the tragedy.
However, officials of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) claimed that there were no disruption in boat services on Monday as the corporation has a standard base of tourists opting for the boat rides. “We came to know about the tourist boat mishap on regional media and it is unfortunate as a majority of the deceased were elderly people. Every year, my family gathers in Bhavani Island to participate in Karthika Vana Mahotsavam. This year too, we celebrated it. Moreover, the boats operated by APTDC are equipped with adequate safety equipment before a cruise,’’ said Chalasani Poornima, a resident of Kanuru.
“Tourist influx into Bhavani Island from Punnami Ghat increases during Karthika Masam, especially during the weekends. As per an MoU entered with APTDC, the tourist boat which capsized should have been operating only between Punnami Ghat and Venkatayapalem’’, said N Surendra Reddy, APTDC’s Punnami Ghat supervisor.
However, the private company violated the norms and undertook the cruise from Punnami Ghat to Pavitra Sangamam at night. Disclosing the details of boats operated by APTDC, Reddy said there are two speed boats (2+ 2 capacity), one jet-ski boat (1 +1 capacity) three mechanised boats (each 50 capacity), an American Pontoon boat (for 25 persons) and Bodhi Sri (with a capacity of 120). Moreover, the cruise and boats of the APTDC only operate between 9 am and 6:30 pm everyday, he added.
“A week ago, representatives from the Ongole Walkers’ Club approached the APTDC at Punnami Ghat to hire a boat for Pavithra Sangamam to witness the Krishna Harathi. We refused to operate the service as it is risky travelling to Pavithra Sangamam ghat during the evening as fishing nets obstruct movement of boats,’’ said K Sambasiva Rao, senior driver operating Bodha Sri boat of the APTDC.Moreover, the tourist boat which met with the accident didn’t have the capacity to carry more than 30 people. Earlier, the APTDC also operated a Bodha Sri cruise to Pavitra Sangamam on a trial basis to check the viability. But somehow, officials dropped proposals to launch the service, he added.
Private company boats in the Krishna
River Boating and Adventures operates jet skies between Punnami Ghat and Bhavani Island.
Goa-based Champion Yacht Club had been given provisional licence to conduct water sports in Krishna river near Bhavani Island by AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) during January 2016.
Amravati Boating Club (Watersports and Boating) entered an MoU with APTDC to offer water sports and it operates a cruise with a 100-person capacity boat between Durga Ghat and Pavitra Sangamam Ghat. Launched its operations from Oct 7, 2017.
Watersports Simple India Private Limited operates speed boats between Punnami Ghat and Bhavani Island and a floating restaurant was also being operated between Punnami Ghat and Pavitra Sangamam Ghat since September 2017.