Date:02/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/02/stories/2005010203840500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

APTDC to act tough Obscene shows on cruiser

By R. Balaji

VIJAYAWADA, JAN.1. Faced with an embarrassing situation of a corporate house organising `nude dances' onboard the air conditioned cruiser `Bodhisiri', the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has decided to prepare a list of cultural troupes which alone will henceforth be permitted to conduct shows on the two tourist vessels.

The Tadepalli police in Guntur district, on December 28, arrested 50 persons, including nine women for allegedly conducting an obscene show onboard `Bodhishiri'. The show was reportedly organised by a corporate house, which held its kitty party on the vessel before the police swooped in to arrest the employees of the company along with the paid dancers. The issue came to light after a local TV channel exposed it through a sting operation.

Panel to be formed

"In view of the recent development, we have decided to constitute a panel which would prepare a list of officially approved cultural troupes to conduct entertainment programmes," the corporation's divisional manager, S. Suryaprakasa Rao, told The Hindu here on Saturday.

He said the panel would select recognised cultural organisations and orchestra groups for conducting programmes like classical dances, mimicry, magic shows and other legally permitted entertainment activities. The troupes would be selected in consultation with the Government College of Music and Dance, he said.

Mr. Rao, however, stoutly denied that there was any `nude' show on `Bodhisiri' as alleged in a section of the media. "It was only some vulgar dances organised by the corporate house over which we had no control or prior information. However, we have now decided to act tough on such activities," the official maintained. Besides, identifying the cultural troupes, strict vigil would be maintained by the staff to prevent any such unlawful activities on the premises of the corporation, he assured.

On an average, the two vessels fetch a revenue of about Rs 2.5 lakhs every month as several corporate houses and big companies conduct their annual conferences, birthday and kitty parties on board the cruisers.