The Puri district administration has initiated a number of steps to boost tourism in Chilika lake and attract the tourists during the current tourist season.
Efforts were on to ensure that visitors return with sweet memories.
A meeting of all boat owners associations operating in the lake was held on Thursday(October 29).
Addressing the boat owners, District Collector Balwant Singh said all the boat operatorsin Chilika lake including those used by tourists for boating should get registered as per the law and renew their permit.
All boats should carry life saving equipment like life jackets and other such essentials for each passengers on board before they were out in the lake.
Boat rent charts for different destinations should be displayed and online booking would be made mandatory ,official sources said. The Chilika development authority (CDA) in consultation with all boat associations would develop an App for online booking and payment, Mr. Singh added. Attention to law order would also be given, especially checking swindling activities. Police action would be taken against persons selling fake pearls and cheating visitors.
Assistant director tourism Sasank Sekhar Rath, district emergency officer Itisree Naik and police SDPO KC Mund were present in the meeting besides boat association office bearers.
