Rafting companies in troubled water, many likely to face shut down

rajugusain

Rafting companied in troubled water, many likely to face shut down

Raju Gusain
Rishikesh, September 15
Rafting companies in the area are going through a rough patch these days. The reason, the rafting season has begun on 1 September but most have not received renewal licenses for rafting and camping from the Forest Department. As a result, most companies are not functioning now and are facing threat of shut down. The Forest Department on the other hand seems least concerned about the sufferings of the adventure sports companies.

Due to this delay (of over two weeks now), Rafting companies are suffering heavy loses; by not able to
host trips of many foreign/domestic clients, that was booked in advanced. It is estimated that 26 companies are yet to get the annual renewal camp licenses and other 10, the rafting permits. Earlier these companies used to get the renewal by the August end.

Commenting on the scenario, Vaibhav Kala, President of the ‘Indian Association of Professional Rafting
Outfitters’ (IPRO), told HT, “There are some 50 companies operating rafting camps in Rishikesh and its
adjoining area. Most are yet to obtain rafting/camping licenses for the current year. Due to this delay, we
are facing cancellations of trips. The license renewal process has ruined our business and if it goes on we
will be nowhere.”

Around 50 companies are operating rafting business at a 36 kms stretch from here to Kaudiyala. The water
sports season is of ten months- from 1 September to 30 June. The peak season is during the Durga Puja. With the Puja season round the corner, the rafting companies are worried a lot.

Vipin Sharma says, “If we do not receive the permits in a day or two, we will incur heavy loses. Beside
this we will also lose credibility among our foreign clients by canceling their trip in the last second.”

Rafting company owners allege that the Uttaranchal Government wishes to implement a PPP (Pubic Private
Partnership) policy for revenue sharing with the rafting companies.

Commenting on the delay in issuing licenses, Om Prakash, Secretary Forest, could only say, “The issue is pending before the cabinet.” He declined to comment further on the issue. When approached, Anand Vardhan, Additional Secretary Tourism, said, “The Forest Department is the license issuing authority and we have little to do with it.”

According to the IPRO, 80% companies are owned by local people. And, the organization considers the
delay as a move to ruin the rafting industry.

Hindusan Times
16 September, 2006

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shahronakm

Rafting is def. one of the major attractions for people visiting Rishikesh apart from the religious ones. Something needs to be done urgently reg. the same.
May be the concerned people should get together & put up the matter before tourism minister (Central Govt.)
I am sure something would done as the matter has been published in Newspaper.

Ronak.

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sirensongs

As the news item suggested, someone in the higher-ups is hankering for more money...either they are pushing for a higher "licensing fee" (read: bribe) or they want to outright grab part of the business ("public private partnership," read: you do all the work, and the govt. gets the $) to which they have no right.

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Nick-H

How dreadful that people should loose their livelihoods, visitors holidays should suffer....

Just because of a few beauroprats (ah-ha! a new word especially for India...).

There are times when I thinnk this country is just mad.

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sirensongs

No wonder there's so little incentive to succeed or improve or build anything...if you do, the vultures from above swoop down and demand their share (often as much as 50%)...otherwise, they destroy you.

This top-down corruption is a real disincentive to entrepreneurs, even on a very small scale.

unsolicited plug while on the subject:
My friends and I had a great rafting trip in Rishikesh with Red Chili Adventures; such good guys, so professional, very affordable and eco-sensitive. Hope they're not in trouble....

slaise

thats sad was planning to do some rafting in himachel pardesh in a weeks time ,,,so which ones are still functioning i've never done it so where can i go as a beginner
?

shahronakm

Rafting in Himachal will be as usual I guess. The above article is for Uttaranchal. There are options near Manali for rafting.

Ronak.