The DDC has proposed to impose a tax of Rs 10 on every boat ride taken, while the operators had been paying only Rs 5 per boat ride for the last three years. [break]
According to Chairperson of Phewa Lake Boat Entrepreneurs Association Buddhi Sagar Nepali, the DDC only concerned about collecting more revenues.
“The DDC has collected millions of rupees in revenues from us but has done little to encourage boat operators or even manage the lake. It is shameful that they are only interested in collecting more taxes,” said Nepali.
“Over the last three years, DDC has collected over Rs 900,000 from boat operators but not a single penny was spent on cleaning and managing the lake. This is why we have resorted to protests,” added Nepali.
Everyday hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists enjoy the boat ride in the lake. With a total of 709 boats registered, around 500 boats operate on a daily basis.
“We will withdraw the protests only after the DDO withdraws its proposal to hike taxes,” said Nepali.
He also informed that though the Pokhara sub metropolitan city allocates Rs 500,000 annually for cleaning the lake, the association of boat operators has received no money from DDO till date. “DDO never spends the allocated budget and the revenues collected from boat operators for managing the lake,” said Nepali.
“I had come to the lakeside with my family but we could not enjoy the boat ride,” said Nandaram Gautam, who was in Pokhara with his family on a vacation.
Related story
Preparations Underway for Dragon Boat Race in Pokhara
