DJ Vekatesh
Port Blair, Nov 03: Rampant violation of safety regulations has brought the fore the urgent need to take preventive measures and educate tourist boat operators of Aerial Bay in Diglipur to ensure safety of tourists at sea.
During a surprise visit recently, the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur found several tourists without life vests on board on their return to Aerial Bay Jetty from Ross and Smith Island. Boat operators, however, offered flimsy excuses to the Assistant Commissioner stating that the tourists removed the jackets just minutes before disembarking. The Assistant Commission immediately called the Police and got all the tourist boats checked for availability of life vests and other necessary gears.
According to information, during peak tourist season almost all the 12 tourist boats plying between Aerial Bay and Ross and Smith Island remain packed to capacity. But tourists immediately after noticing the Get Down Point at Aerial Bay Jetty start removing the life jackets ignoring the instructions of the Tourist Safety and Enforcement Team.
The situation turns more dangerous for tourists during low tides when boats get clutched with the beams of the jetty. Instructions have already been issued by the District Administration to all boat operators to ensure that life vests are put on by tourists till they disembark safely on the jetty. However, the violation of the official instructions continues unabated in the region.
Moreover, even the instructions on boat timings and fares are also flouted by the tourist boat operators. As per an official order, the Directorate of Tourism in the month of July this year fixed the rate and trip timings of Fiber Boats to Ross and Smith Island. For the minimum 5 pax, Rs.2,500/- and Rs. 300/- per additional pax subject to maximum passenger capacity of the boat and 4 hours of stay at Ross & Smith Islands.
However, boat operators allow visitors to stay at the Ross and Smith Island for just two hours including travel journey to generate more profits by accommodating extra tourists during the specified period. “Such open violation of safety measures seriously risks the lives of tourists visiting the Ross and Smith Island.
The administration has laid special emphasis on safety measures during sea journey after the Jan 26 boat tragedy. But the boat operators at Aerial Bay appear to care two hoots of the official instructions. Moreover, tourists are also fleeced by the boat operators who don’t allow them the prescribed 4 hours of stay at the tourist spot. The administration should immediately act to prevent any mishaps and ensure strict implementation of regulations by the Tourist Boat operators of Aerial Bay,” said a tour operator of Diglipur.
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