Over the past four weeks, the hearing on the petition concerning the Fatehsagar and Lake Pichola operators has been ongoing. On the other hand, the District Committee established by the Rajasthan Lake Development Authority, Jaipur, under the leadership of Collector Tarachand Meena, presented the report about the operation of the boats in a closed envelope as per the High Court's directive. 

The Rajasthan Lake Development Authority has now asked the High Court for an extension of 4 weeks. Sources claim that the District Committee stated in its report that it wanted to achieve a balance between tourism and the environment.

This will result in fewer boats being used in Pichola and Fateh Sagar. Even after the 22 boats from 6 hotels in Pichola stopped its service many have claimed that the number of 16 battery-operated boats will be raised.

The 106 boats in Fatehsagar and Pichola are divided into 96 petrol-powered boats and 10 solar-powered boats. Although Municipal Corporation Shiv Amritwani Pichola Lake has 17 petrol boards, Fatehsagar Lake, which has permission from UIT, has three under contract from whom 28 boards with petrol are run. Daily visitor numbers in these 28 boats are over 7000.

On an average, more than 6 to 7000 tourists visit Pichola every day through these boats. In Fatehsagar and Pichola, Corporation and UIT's petrol operated 45 boats which are run throughout the day. To convert these 45 boats into batteries a proposal has also been sent. 

Source: Dainik Bhaskar