Houseboat journey is a risk ride

ALAPPUZHA: The backwater tourism  in  Alappuzha  is a risky affair  going by the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General submitted  to  the  Assembly recently.  The government has not provided adequate security though in 2013 it had offered to set up a special police station at Punnamada with the service of a sub-inspector and ten police personnel exclusively for patrolling and rescue operations in Kochi, Alappuzha and Kumarakom. Most of the houseboat  crew members are   alcoholic and indulge in fleecing and malpractices.  The port department does not  take action due to staff crunch and lack of power.  

Rocha Chacko, a tour operator of  Kainakari, said the industry requires competent, committed and professional employees. Majority of them do not know  swimming or how to communicate with the  guests politely. “Many drowning cases occurred here in the last five years because  the crew did not know swimming.  Several houseboats have  failed the stability test and lack security apparatus, including life jackets,” he said. A 10-member committee headed by the then tourism secretary Suman Billa had suggested steps to improve the security  in the wake of the tragedy  on January 26, 2013  claiming the lives of four tourists.

The government had submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court in July 2014 saying that the houseboats were  polluting Vembanad lake leading to multiplication of e-coli bacteria in the backwaters. According to the port department data, at least 734 licensed houseboats and 248 shikharas are currently plying in the  backwaters. As per the CAG report, only 326 have passed the stability test as on March 31, 2016. Also, 69 percent of the boats do not have third party insurance.Mr Switten George, vice-president,  All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association (AKHOA), said  the committee suggestions could not be implemented as they were impractical.

According to the Kerala Inland Vessels Act, 2010, each houseboat should  have at least three workers – two lascars, one syrang and one driver and the Shikhara must have a syrang who can tell the tourists about the safety measures.  In addition to this, the licence is issued after verifying the boat has enough lifebuoys, lifejackets, fire extinguishers and other safety equipment made mandatory by the government.  Knowledge of swimming is prescribed for the crew members.

Mr Abraham Kuriakose, port officer, said  the GPS system  was being implemented in the sector to connect all houseboats in a single unit.   The department has cleared all papers for  setting up floating jetties and the  irrigation department has been asked to start work at the earliest. Currently, the port officer has no power to  fine  erring houseboat owners. “Now they are getting away with little fine if they are caught red-handed. That is why many houseboats were found unfit by the CAG.  Since there is no halting facility to keep seized houseboats,  the  port department releases the boat on the spot after imposing fine,” said the port officer.

Safety measures recommended by the Suman Billa committee

A system of checking the arrival and departure (checking-in and checking-out) will be put in place in Punnamada, other jetties and terminals here for controlling houseboat traffic.
A list of safe boats will be published within three months of checking of houseboats and motorboats.
If any deficiencies were found, one week’s time will be given to rectify them.
A list of safe water routes and boat jetties will be published. The jetties in bad shape will be renovated.
New permanent jetties will be set up in Punnamada. A total of 14 useless floating jetties  will be removed.
New houseboat terminals will be built at Aroorkutty, Thaneermukkom, Pallathuruthy and Nedumudi. The existing ones will be developed further.
The road to the Punnamada houseboat terminal will be repaired.
Global Positioning System will be provided in boats.
The committee will recommend to the  government to set up a special police station at Punnamada and to press into service an SI and ten police personnel  for patrolling and rescue operations in Kochi, Alappuzha and Kumarakom.
The fire and rescue department will buy two fireboats.
Examinations and training will be conducted every month for  houseboat employees to get licences.
The establishment of waste treatment plant  processing waste will be made compulsory in houseboats.
Possibilities will be sought for setting up a bio-gas plant in Punnamada.
Facilities will be provided at Vattakkayal and Karumadi for houseboats for night stay.
The committee will also recommend to the government to form an authority with more powers in the tourism industry sector on the lines of Airport Authority of India (AAI).
A meeting of insurance companies will be convened to set up insurance for passengers and staff of houseboats and motorboats.