Hidden danger: Maoist threat looms over houseboats in Kerala

Alappuzha: The state intelligence has warned of the presence of Maoists in tourist destinations in the state, including Alappuzha.

Apart from the flourishing sex trade in houseboats, Maoists are also reportedly making use of the facilities for their nefarious activities, it is said.

Meanwhile, the district administration has issued stop memos to 98 houseboats after they were found to conduct services in violation of the prescribed norms.

A  joint inspection was conducted by the police, revenue and port department officials.  Mr A. Vinod, port officer, said  there was no centralised system to register details of tourists and crew members of  houseboats.

“The boarding pass system proposed by a committee should be implemented immediately,”  he said.  The pass would enable checking of the arrival and departure of travellers and houseboat employees, he added.

The houseboat owners are reluctant to introduce the boarding pass system, which was  proposed by a ten-member committee constituted by the government in February 2013.

The committee headed by tourism secretary Suman Billa was formed in the wake of the  tragedy that took place on the Republic Day in 2013 claiming the lives of four tourists.

Though it had asked the houseboat owners to implement the system within three months, the All-Kerala houseboat Owners’ Association rejected the proposal on the ground that it would adversely affect their business.

AKHOA general secretary N.Sreekumar told Deccan Chronicle, “If the system is  implemented, rival businessmen can  access the details of  each other’s  clients, paving the way for utter chaos in the industry. The  boat owners affiliated to the association maintain a ‘log book’ to register the names of people who stay in houseboats. Any agency can check it at any time,”  he said.

But the police are unable to know the identity of those staying in houseboats.

For instance, a few months ago, a migrant crew member was murdered by his colleague during cruising. But, the houseboat owners had no details about the dead. 

Mr P. Mohandas, north Circle Inspector, Alappuzha, said the police had to keep the body of the worker in the mortuary for three days to trace  his identity.

District Tourism Promotion Council  secretary C. Pradeep said the Council was for implementing the pass system.

The DTPC will raise the issue in the next meeting of the special committee of officials set up by the collector.