Ban speedboat services in Vizag, ask fishermen

The fishermen at Chepalarevu in Vizag are raising their voices to ban high capacity speedboat services for tourism in the city to save fishing.

On Monday,  the fishermen officials and MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar have handed over the request letters to the Authority of the speedboat.

Problems due to the speedboat:

• The operators of ordinary boats are losing a way of livelihood due to speedboats.
• The occupation of fishing would be facing troubles.
• Due to high capacity engines, the fish in the ocean is moving to a deeper layer making it difficult for the fisherman to catch fish.
• The rate of fishing would decrease.

Vasupalli Ganesh said that the speedboat facility has to be stopped to save pisciculture. He also mentioned that the agitations would increase if necessary actions are not taken as soon as possible.

A few days back, the Tourism Department of Andhra Pradesh has made terms with Kakinada Port on introducing a ten seater tourism speedboat in addition to the existing 4 speed and scooter boats at Rushikonda in Vizag. It has been bought for Rs 8.50 lakhs from Chennai. Since the shore at Rushikonda does not hold a jatti facility like the one at the fishing harbour, the officials are in discussions about shifting the boat to the harbour.