Alappuzha: The Vembanad lake in Alappuzha has turned watery grave for many tourists in the past, including a Hyderabad couple who went on a honeymoon trip in a Shikara boat this time last year.
Though the authorities have imposed many regulations like wearing of life jackets, the Shikaras (small boats) flout the rules with impunity risking the tourists lives. Even the tragedy in Himachal Pradesh in which 24 Hyderabad-based engineering students were swept away in River Beas the other day has not served to make the boat owners aware of the need for safety steps.
Deccan Chronicle has found that tourists cruising in the Shikara boats do not use life jackets which have been made mandatory. According to the Kerala Inland Vessels Act, 2010, a tourist boat like Shikara must have a srank (boat captain) who can instruct tourists to adopt safety measures during the cruise.
A few months ago, a srank confessed to this correspondent during a trip in a Shikara that it was rare for anyone to wear life jacket in the boat. “We can find out any unnatural occurrences during cruise and will locate the nearest jetty to avoid danger,” he said.
When asked about the drowning of the Hyderabad couple, he said that it happened because of the inexperience of the srank, who was juvenile. He admitted that a lot of unqualified sranks were working in the sector even after the tragic incident. As many as 200 Shikaras ply every day in the Vembanad lake. An American tourist Lidya Greve, who carried out a day-long Shikara cruise recently along with others, said she did not wear any life jacket.
“We were not given any security instructions and we were not asked to wear life jackets. We wanted to enjoy the trip and we didn’t make an issue of it,” she said.
A report submitted by the then district police chief Thomson Jose soon after the couple’s tragedy had called for strict enforcement of safety steps in the industry.
He said that the majority of boats were plying without any life-saving equipment and many had no permit of the port department. The report had also asked the district administration and the tourism department to take strict action against the erring boat operators.
The appointments to these small boats are still being made on the basis of the boat owner’s interest. Shikara boat owners and operators union (CITU) secretary M.G. Mohanan says the union has insisted on safety steps during the monsoon season.
“We have asked all sranks to berth the boats at a safe place if they notice weather changes during the ride. Inexperienced sranks will not be allowed to operate the boats and the Shikara boat owners will be issued notice to take adequate security steps,” he claims.
District Tourism Promotion Council secretary C. Pradeep says there is no need for additional safety measures during the monsoon. The DTPC has already imposed a set of rules which must be followed by Shikharas as well as houseboats. Anybody violating the guidelines will be held responsible for mishaps,” he warns.
