The day after lives of 22 Christmas revelers were lost when their boat capsized in Pulicat Lake, leaders of 13 fishing village on Monday banned fishermen from taking tourists in their boats for fun ride.

The decision was taken at the meeting of Oor Panchayat leaders of 13 fishing hamlets in the office of Light House village panchayat on Monday.

“We have decided to ban fishermen from carrying tourists in their boats for a ride for a price. We also asked the fishermen not to go near Mugathuvaram (lake mouth) as the most of the accidents happen there,” Light House village panchayat president R. Karunakaran told DC.

Mr Karunakaran said that he along with Oor panchayat leaders of the fishing hamlets would meet tourism minister S. Gokula Indira and Tiruvallur district collector Ashish Chatterjee seeking their intervention to set up a government boat house in Pulicat lake. “The government should regulate and issue licences for operating tourists boats to local fishermen,” he said. A boat should not be allowed to carry over eight persons and it should have life jackets, he added.