Life jackets mandatory for tourists in Phewa, Begnas lakes

Pokhara:The District Administration Office of Kaski has made life jackets mandatory for tourists boating in Fewa and Begnas Lakes of Pokhara.

The rule, however, does not apply to hundreds of locals, though they have to cross the lakes every now and then. The DAO´s move comes on the heels of the death of four persons when a boat capsized in Begnas Lake in April. Naturally, the locals feel neglected by the state.

“The boat is the only means we can use to reach Pokhara across Fewa Lake. And the journey is full of risk and can even cost our life. But who care for our safety,” laments Jeevan Gurung, a resident of Anudhu in Pumdi Bhumdi VDC of Kaski.

“Everyday our children use a boat to reach their schools in Pokhara. But none of them possess a life jacket,” Gurung adds. “We are always about their safety.”
Over 20 students from Anudhu cross the lake to reach their schools.

The villagers desperately need life jackets as they have to use the boats on a regular basis and they are prone to accidents, he says.
The students are most vulnerable to accidents as a strong wind blows during the evening in the lake, increasing the chances of a boat capsize.
Locals residing across Begnas Lake share similar plight. Everyday hundreds of locals from Kotbari in Lekhnath Municipality sail their boats in the Lake though not a single person has a life jacket.

“Everyone is concerned about the safety of the tourists. Why does not the government care for our security? ” asks Lekhnath Pandey, a local of Katbari. “The authority should manage at least one life jacket to each family in the villages.”

Dhak Nath Kadel, president of Begnas Boat Business Committee, said the committee has not been able to manage life jackets to the villagers. “If the DAO provides at least one jacket, they would have felt safe,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer, Yadav Prasad Koirala said that the DAO will manage life jackets to the villagers in the days to come.

source: republica,27 July 2013