More than 100 boatmen of different villages of Maithon are facing extreme penury due to restriction on boating as per the Covid guidelines imposed by the government.
Worse is the condition of such boatmen who purchased boats through bank financing worth Rs 18 lakh as due to lack of income they are unable to pay the EMI worth Rs 25 to 30 thousand per month facing seizure of their boats.
A delegation of over 50 boat operators on Sunday met Michel Koda, officer in charge of Maithon police outpost, demanding permission for boat operation with 50% capacity.
Talking to The Telegraph Online, Mantu Mahto, a boatman who is also president of cooperative society of boatmen titled, Kaliphadi Swavlambi Matsyajivi Sahyog Samiti said. “Though Covid restriction came into effect from January, our income has been affected from December 29, 2021 itself with the district administration imposing prohibitory orders under section 144 on all picnic spots, parks etc to prevent the congregation of large number of people during the year end at these places.”
“We would request the state government to allow us to operate with 50% capacity as we assure observance of all Covid norms including social distancing norms,” said Mahto adding that there is no logic of only restricting boating when all other shops including the eateries, restaurants, bars etc situated all across the state including on the lake bank at Maithon have been allowed to operate.
“The lake bank has enough open space and there is problem of Covid norm violation during boat operation or also during embarking and disembarking of people, ” pointed out Mahto.
Echoing sentiments, Sanjay Kumar Pandey (50) another boatmen of Kalipahari who also purchased a boat worth Rs 18 lakh on bank loan two years ago, said, “The only income for us through which we can garner some savings takes place during the three months of December to February and income remained also affected during 2020 picnic season due to lesser flow of picnickers causing miseries to us”
Shailendra Marandi (45) another boatmen of Goghna village of Maithon whose entire family income is also dependent on the picnic season said, “We hardly earn Rs Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per day during the off season and the it is only picnic season of three months when our income touches to Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 per months which we save for EMI payment etc but due to restriction on boating we will face difficulty in EMI payment as well as carrying out maintenance of boats etc.”
