Association up in arms against outsourcing river rafting at Dubare

The river rafting association has condemned the move of the district administration to outsource maintenance of rafting at Dubare, one of the tourist spots in Kodagu district.

Briefing reporters here on Wednesday, Association vice president C L Vishwa said that rafting was being maintained by locals at Dubare for the past 10 years. However, the district administration has taken a unilateral decision to outsource the maintenance of rafting. The district administration should drop its proposal to outsource rafting.

“In fact, previous DC Meer Anees Ahmmed too had issued a press release on outsourcing rafting. However, a stay order from the High Court stopped the process. Now, once again the present DC Richard Vincent D’Souza has taken a decision to outsource rafting.”

He said that, “A representation will be submitted to MLA M P Appachu Ranjan, District-in-charge Minister M R Seetharam and the district administration to drop the proposal of outsourcing maintenance of rafting at Dubare. If the authorities fail to take measures, legal action would be initiated,” he warned.

Entertainment tax

He said that 16 owners at Dubare are paying entertainment tax to the government. Rafting is being carried out after availing a no objection certificate from the gram panchayat. Lakhs of rupees are spent on guides, safety gears and other maintenance. The decision of the district administration will inconvenience all those who are dependent on rafting for a livelihood.

Member Damodar said that, “Rafting was started by locals. No facilities have been given by the government. Tourism department was approached to initiate measures to take up development works in Dubare. However, our appeals have not been considered so far. The tender process to outsource maintenance of rafting will benefit capitalists from outside the state.”  

“Owing to the conditions laid down by the district administration for participation in tender, we can not take part in it as arranging the documents will require at least a year’s time,” he said.