Boatmen stir against boating ban in Ganga continues

Varanasi: In protest against the ban on boating in the Ganga boatmen associated with Maan Ganga Nishadraj Sewa Samiti continued their dharna on the second consecutive day at Dashashwamedh Ghat on Wednesday. They were demanding immediate withdrawal of restriction on boating in the Ganga. The ban was imposed on boating after an overloaded boat capsized in the midstream of Ganga on August 5 in which 18 persons lost their lives.
It may be recalled that the boatmen and fishermen community also submitted a memorandum in this regard recently at the newly created local office of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ravindrapuri colony.
According to them, the ban on boating affected the livelihood of about 40,000 people of the community. Vinod Kumar Nishad, president of the organisation, said that their agitation would continue till the withdrawal of ban.