Another season on backwaters without floating jetties
14 floating jetties which were left unused, would be removed and better ones constructed
By : t.sudheesh
Update: 2014-10-18 05:20 GMT
ALAPPUZHA: A meeting of the nine-member committee set up by the Government, at a meeting here on February 25, 2013, had declared that 14 floating jetties which were left unused, would be removed and better ones constructed. After almost two years down the line, not a single floating jetty has been constructed. The decision was taken after an investigation found that a tragic boat mishap which claimed four lives in January 2013, had taken place all because of the absence of floating jetties.
As per the decisions taken at that crucial meeting chaired by the Principal Tourism Secretary on February 25, a system of checking the arrival and departure (checking-in and checking-out) would be put in place in Punnamada, other jetties and terminals here for controlling houseboat traffic.
A list of boats safe for travelling would be published. If any deficiencies were found while checking boats, a week’s time would be given for rectifying them. Another list of safe water routes and safe boat jetties would be published. Jetties in bad shape would be renovated and new permanent ones would be set up in Punnamada.
New houseboat terminals would be built at Aroorkutty, Thaneermukkom, Pallathuruthy and Nedumudi. The road to the Punnamada houseboat terminal was to be repaired. Global Positioning System (GPS) would be provided in boats. A special police station at Punnamada would be set up with the services of a Sub Inspector and ten police personnel exclusively for patrolling and rescue operations in Kochi, Alappuzha and Kumarakom. The Fire and Resuce Department would buy two fireboats.
Interestingly, even after about two years, all the decisions are still on paper. N.Sreekumar, secretary, All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association (AKHOA) which had earlier turned down a boarding pass proposal suggested by the committee, accused the Government of being indifferent to the houseboat industry. Floating jetties were crucial to averting accidents. The tragedy which took place on Republic Day could have been averted if proper floating jetties had been put in place, he said.
Said District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Secretary C. Pradeep: “We are now busy with the mega tourism circuit project being implemented jointly by the State and Central Governments”, he said.