Collector hijacking boat angers tourists

KHAMMAM: With district collector Siddhardh Jain taking Bhadradri Jalavihar, ITDA's  air-conditioned launch, for a cruise on the Godavari with his family, tourists from across India who had booked the launch flew into a rage and destroyed another launch which was moored to the river bank at Sriramagiri in Varamachandrapuram mandal in the district on Sunday.The angry tourists stormed the launch Gowri Shankar, burnt its furniture and broke the window panes.  Over 250 tourists from across the state booked tickets for cruise to Papikondalu on Sunday on Bhadradri Jalavihar. When they found no launch there on their arrival, they questioned the organisers about it . The organisers told them that Bhadradri Jalavihar was not available since the district collector had taken it. They said they had to allot it to him since revenue officials had brought pressure on them.A heated argument ensued between the tourists and the organisers.  Finally, the organisers brought another launch, Gowri Shankar, but it was small and had no capacity to accommodate all the tourists. Moreover, it was not an air-conditioned launch for which they had paid. The tourists again picked up an argument with the organisers demanding to know how a boat booked by them could be sent to district collector for his family's use. The boat that had been fixed for them - Gowri Shankar - was too small to accommodate all of them, its capacity being only 80. And, in the heat of the moment, set the furniture on the boat on fire and smashed the windshields.When contacted, the district collector said over phone that he was not aware that the launch had been booked in advance and was not told about it. . ITDA project officer Praveen Kumar said he had ordered an inquiry.