Date:22/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022210060300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Alappuzha boat operators flouting safety norms

A. Harikumar

Many boats are operating without valid licences

ALAPPUZHA: A large number of motorboats and houseboats are operating in the backwaters and waterbodies without valid licence, raising serious questions on the safety of tourists.

Three types of licences are mandatory for boats to operate in the backwaters. Initially, D-form licence has be obtained from the inspector of boats who issues the certificate after verifying that the boat has enough lifebuoys, lifejackets, fire extinguishers and other safety equipment made mandatory by the State Government to ensure the safety of passengers.

Then, a certificate from executive engineers of the State Pollution Control Board that the effluent discharge from the boat is within permissible levels should be obtained.

Finally, boat owners have to get A-form certificates from the assistant engineer, canals, Irrigation Department, for operating through canals and other waterbodies. Night cruises are banned for houseboats.

Authorities pointed out that according to rough estimate only around 250 of the total 350 houseboats in Alappuzha had all valid documents.

In the last 18 months, around 100 boats were given A-form certificate from the Alappuzha canals assistant engineer office.

While it was mandatory that houseboats and other boats should keep authentic copies of their licences in the boat for scrutiny, only a few boats kept it, said officials of the canal division.

They said that illegal boat operators often threatened officials collectively.

The political leadership often supported boat owners in the name of development of the tourism industry.

They pointed out that officials were not provided with speedboats to check houseboats.

Police officials said a section of houseboat operators often resisted attempts to inspect boats saying it would disturb guests which would affect their business.

Officials pointed out that while double-decker boats were not allowed under laws, such houseboats were also being launched at present.