Out of just two boats operating in the lake for the last three years, one has already broken down while the other is in a precarious condition, after developing a crack in the bottom. [break]
The damaged boat can now ferry only ten people at a time despite its initial capacity to hold 18.
"The only boat we have sails direly," laments Chief of the Rara National Park, Bhogendra Rayamajhi, adding that the real problem is that the government has no program to promote tourism in the area.
"Considering the bad condition of the boat, we operate it only in the morning when the wind is mild," says an officer at the Hutu barrack of Nepal Army, which operates the boat. "And we don´t risk sailing too far from the shallow water."
It´s not that the government officers are oblivious to the problem. Every year dozens of these officers visit the park and many of them leave with a promise to do something for the development of the area--but to no avail, Rayamajhi says.
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"As I remember, most of the officials come here only for enjoyment. Developing the lake area was never their concern," he adds. "It´s sad thaat the government is turning a blind eye to our woes."
Meanwhile, a team of human right defenders, who have recently returned after attending the Gamgadi event in the district, have expressed sadness over the plight of the lake.
"It was a sad sight to see the broken boats and the downfall of tourism in such a heavenly destination," says Rajendra Neupane, chief of the sub regional office of the National Human Right Commission. "I really want to thank the army officer who risked his life to save ours while sailing us around on the damaged boat."
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