JOIN USThe district administration has laid down 23 conditions for organisations engaged in river rafting in Cauvery, at Dubare.
Any violation of the conditions is a punishable offence, according to Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari.
The decision has been taken in the interest of the safety of tourists and also to carry out rafting legally. The police will file cases under IPC Section 280 (Rash navigation of vessel) and 282 (Conveying person by water for hire in unsafe or overloaded vessel) against those who violate the 23 conditions. Under these Sections, offenders will be sentenced to six months of imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1,000 or both.
Conditions prescribe that organisations take permission from the police, forest, fire services and the tourism department compulsorily. Guides should be trained by recognised organisations and have identity cards issued by the forest department and wear uniform. The guides must have undergone training in first-aid techniques. The district tourism development committee will fix the amount to be charged from tourists. The timings for rafting is 9 am to 5 pm.
It may be recalled that former MLC M C Nanaiah had submitted a complaint to the DC to act against illegal rafting in Dubare.
In a report, the SP had said there are nine raft owners with 387 rafts. However, none of the guides has any training from recognised institutes. Nine criminal cases were registered against rafters in Kushalnagar police station. Hence, in the report submitted to the DC, the SP has called for a ban on those who do not follow guidelines.
The district administration is planning to entrust the responsibility of parking and other basic facilities, to the tourism department.
“Since it is our responsibility to ensure safety of tourists, terms and conditions have been laid down for rafting,” Tiwari said.