The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A sojourn ridden with risks

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Wednesday, Nov 28, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A sojourn ridden with risks

B.V.S. Bhaskar

Enchanting Papikondalu fail to enthuse visitors

not a smooth ride: Boat carrying heavy load from Pattiseema to Papikondalu. - A file photo

Rajahmundry: Papikondalu or Papi Hills, known as the destination for nature lovers, are turning out to be a place ridden with risks.

A boat ride on the Godavari, which flows in between the two majestic hills, is undoubtedly enchanting. For, it is at this place the river flows from Chhattisgarh.

With the State government announcing the construction of the Polavaram dam at this spot, it is believed that the two hills from which the river flows, will disappear.

They will either be submerged or are blasted for the purpose. People not only from Andhra Pradesh but also from neighbouring states visit the place to enjoy the scenic setting.

High expectations

However, many a tourist lament that the Andhra Pradesh Tourism has miserably failed in meeting their expectations, be it operating boats, provision of facilities in house boats and in ensuring safety.

Risk factor

There are number of incidents wherein visitors were stranded in the middle of the river, spending the whole night in a boat.

Recently, some 60 doctors who attended a diabetic conference were trapped in the middle of the river. They had to call ‘108’ service to save themselves from the agony.

A woman leading an MNC was stuck in the river as her boat broke down at Papikondalu. “There are no facilities. The risk factor is more. No professionalism in the operation of boats. Women and aged persons are the worst sufferers. It is the worst voyage ever,” says V. Vijayakumar, working in a leading Engineering College.RDO M. Jitendra, tahasildar K. Narasimha Murthy, Additional SP Ramakrishna recently held a meeting with boat operators and directed them to improve the conditions. The Irrigation Department and the Tourism Department seem to have no say in maintenance of boats.

“It’s boring”

“There is no proper entertainment on the decks. Local people do some recording dances.

The seven hours of continuous voyage is boring. Food items are also not available,” says a team of students from IIT-Guwahati.

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