Billa report on houseboat back in focus

ALAPPUZHA: The majority of houseboats in Alappuzha are unfit to travel. This finding of the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) in a report submitted to the Assembly on Tuesday has revived the demand to implement the Suman Billa committee recommendations in the houseboat sector.  A 10-member committee headed by  the then tourism secretary Suman Billa in January 2013 had suggested steps  to improve the security in the industry. But they have been ignored though  the committee was formed in the wake of the tragedy that happened on January 26, 2013 claiming four lives.

There was stiff resistance to the suggestions of the committee which produced an  82-page report. Mr Switten George, vice-president,  All- Kerala Houseboat Owners Association (AKHOA), said the suggestions were  impractical. “We think these recommendations  relate to the sea and not river,” he says. According to the CAG report, there are no life-saving equipment, life jackets or fire safety tools aboard the houseboats. Out of the 734 houseboats registered under the Alappuzha ports registry, 326 have not renewed their licences as on March 31, 2016. Also, 69 per cent of the boats do not have  third party insurance.

Port officials say the licences are being issued as per the norms of Kerala Inland Vessels Act, 2010, which stipulate each houseboat has to have at least three workers — two lascars, one syrang and one driver.  The Shikhara must have a syrang capable of convincing the tourists about safety measures while cruising.  “In addition, the licence is issued after verifying the boat has enough lifebuoys, lifejackets, fire extinguishers and other safety equipment which are mandatory  to ensure the safety of passengers.

Knowledge of swimming is prescribed for crew members. The tracking system to be implemented  will connect all houseboats in a single unit.   “The department has cleared all papers with regard to setting up floating jetties. The irrigation department has been asked to start works at the earliest,” said a port official. The delay in conducting stability tests is due to the dearth of man power, said the official. “Most of the people who have been authorized to conduct the tests are professors in Cochin University who are held up with  academic activities,”  the official said.    

A source told DC that the authorities found no licensed boat among  50 houseboats operating in Kumarakom during the recent visit of BJP leader L.K. Advani. Following this, Mr Advani was accommodated in a houseboat which was given a 10-day temporary licence by the authorities. “We don’t know how this temporary licence was given to that particular boat,”  the source said.