Vasota fort reopens to tourists from October 15; life jackets and fire equipment mandatory on boats

Bamnoli: Vyaghragad-Vasota fort, a draw for trekkers and tourists from across the country, will reopen to visitors from October 15, officials of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve have decided. Tourists have been asked to follow the rules strictly.

Kiran Jagtap, deputy director of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, chaired a meeting of boat club operators, hotel and tent businesses and local villagers at the Bamnoli forest range office, and told them to follow the rules laid down by the reserve and the central government to the letter.

Each boat must carry 12 to 15 passengers, have working fire-fighting equipment and provide every tourist with a life jacket. Boat operators should make sure tourists do not throw plastic bottles or other waste into the Koyna reservoir, Jagtap said.

Reserve officials are working to provide good facilities for tourists, he said, asking boat clubs, businesses and villagers to cooperate with the administration. Assistant conservator of forests (wildlife) Baba Hake, range forest officer Vijay Bathe and boat club office-bearers attended the meeting.

Source: Pudhari