Boats have been allowed to operate on owners’ assurance
Tourists take a ride on a shikara in Alappuzha. (Photo: DC)
ALAPPUZHA: Despite houseboat accidents not being uncommon during the monsoon season, district tourism authorities have not introduced any curbs on shikara cruising here. With coastal districts being a soft target for heavy rain and wind that frequently wreak havoc during the monsoon, the chances of dangers of houseboat cruising are relatively high.
Even so, Shikaras this year have been allowed to take a ride during the monsoon season after a shihara owner association’s assurance that they would not go cruising during adverse weather condition. A ban on Shikaras in the monsoon season was introduced after a Hyderabad couple drowned in the Punnamada Lake in June 2013.
They have been allowed to operate this time following the assurance.
M. G. Mohanan, secretary of the Shikara Boat Owners and Operators Union (affiliated to the CITU) , said the union had taken this monsoon very seriously as the worst-ever tragedy took place in the last monsoon season. “We have instructed all syrangs to berth the boats in safe places if they feel the weather is going to change during the ride. All inexperienced syrangs have been asked to leave and we will not be allowed to operate the boats. The union has decided to issue a notice to all shikara boat owners citing security measures that need to be taken during this monsoon season," he said.
The District Tourism Promotion Council secretary Mr C. Pradeep is of the view that there was no need for additional measures for seasonal safety. The DTPC has already imposed a set of rules that need to be followed by shikaras as well as houseboats. "Anybody who violates the guidelines will be responsible if anything goes wrong," he warned. As many as 200 shikharas are plying in the Vembanad Lake everyday.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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