Boating in Ganga at Varnasi set to be costlier

VARANASI: Tourists desirous of enjoying a boat ride in Ganga at Varanasi will have to shell out a little extra from their pocket as the Wildlife department has decided to increase the boating charges from January 15.

"The foreign tourists will be charged at Rs 350 for a boat ride in Ganga for the first three days and Rs 175 per day for the subsequent days at Varanasi from January 15 this year," Alok Srivastav, DFO, Kashi wild life division told news agency.

Similarly, the Indian tourists would have to pay Rs 30 for the first three days and Rs 20 for the subsequent days, he said.

Citing the reasons for charging the tourists, he said that the seven kilometre stretch of Ganga from Ramnagar Fort to Rajghat was declared as a turtle sanctuary in 1985 and accordingly the charges were decided upon but was not applied here earlier.

Srivastav said other wildlife sanctuaries in the state also impose charges.

Now the wild life department had decided to collect an entry fee for the sanctuary here as well, he said.

The motor boats and row boats will be charged at Rs 100 and Rs 50 per day respectively, he said, adding, the entry fee would be utilised to protect the turtles and other wild life species in the river.

Meanwhile, the boat owners have taken to the streets protesting the decision as they fear a downfall in the number of tourists.