The East Godavari district authorities have directed the traditional fisherfolk and migrants from Yanam of Pondicherry Union Territory to obtain permission from the Department of Ports to operate their boats for fishing and tourism purposes in the river Godavari in East Godavari district.
The officials made the permission from the Department of Ports mandatory for all the boats as part of vigilance on their movements in the wake of illegal entry into the islands of the river Godavari.
Recently, two people drowned in the Godavari River at Pushkar ghat, reportedly after a group of locals hired a fishing boat to spend the evening on an island. There is a ban on entry to the islands, inhibited mostly by the migrants of Yanam town, for any recreational purposes.
In a review meeting with all the stakeholders held last week, East Godavari District Collector P. Prasanthi and Superintendent of Police D. Narasimha Kishore mooted the need for high vigil on the movements of the boats being operated in the Godavari River.
“The Department of Ports will have to give its nod for all the boats, specifying the purpose of the respective boat. The fishing boats will not be allowed to operate for tourism purposes,” said Mr. Narasimha Kishore.
Meanwhile, East Godavari District Fisheries Officer T. Nirmala Kumari has appealed to all the boat operators in the Godavari River to attend a meeting at Kovvur ghat on April 29.
The boat operators will be counselled on the new regulations and permissions to continue their activities.