The boat rides operated by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) at Brindavan Gardens has been temporarily suspended owing to poor storage in the Krishnaraja Sagar.
The rides were stopped on December 6 following poor inflow into the boating tank from the reservoir in the wake of release of water at the rate of 10,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu.
Though the suspension of the boat rides was expected to last only for a few days as the reservoir had 9 tmcft of water on December 6, sources said it might resume only in the first week of April.
“The corporation has decided to stop boating for the next three months as live storage in the reservoir on Tuesday morning was less than 6 tmcft,” a KSTDC official from Bangalore told The Hindu .
Introduced in 1981
Boating was introduced at Brindavan Gardens in 1981 to boost tourism.
Tourists from different parts of the country arrive here to enjoy the rides.
“At least 2,500 visitors would come every day to enjoy the boat rides. The number of visitors used to cross 5,000 during weekends,” K. Sanjeev Poojari, in-charge officer, KSTDC, said.
The KSTDC has six boats here and the entry fee per person is Rs. 10.
Boating would generate revenue of at least Rs. 35,000 a day.
The KRS and Brindavan Gardens attract at least 3 lakh tourists every month. More than 30 per cent of tourists who visit the gardens enjoy boating, he added.
“We enjoy boating at the Boat House in Ooty and we wanted to see what Brindavan Gardens has to offer. We are disappointed,” T. Selvi Kumari and Lakshmammal from Aruvankadu near Ooty, said. Meanwhile, the KSTDC is contemplating removing silt from the boating tank soon. Silt has not been removed from the tank for the past several years. We have decided to take it up soon,” a KSTDC officer said.
