ALAPPUZHA: Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission is planning to bring the houseboat industry, a major polluter of Vembanad Lake, under the green protocol by the year-end.
As an initial step, a Rs 15 lakh waste management project is underway for Kumarakom, Pallathuruthy and Punnamada.
"We will classify houseboats based on performance. Our primary challenge is to get the sector in order," RT Mission coordinator Rupesh Kumar said.
"Only 700 of the 13,000 houseboats here have got proper registration. We'll collect details of all, get them onboard and promote green houseboats. RT classification will go a long way in redefining backwater tourism."
The peer-to-peer effort to address waste management issues in Pallathuruthy, a hub of houseboats here, is going on unhindered coordinating beneficiary groups and resorts, making them aware of the advantages of sustainable tourism.
It requires at least Rs 1,500 to dispose of garbage for a houseboat in a month. Presently, RT mission spends Rs 1,000 and takes Rs 500 from houseboats.
“The fee collection could come around Rs 88,500 and expenses Rs 79,270,” he said.
“RT is high on the government's agenda,” tourism secretary Rani George said.
Vembanad Lake protection forum secretary K.M. Poovu said waste dumping posed a massive threat to the ecosystem and hence it would be an effective step forward.
“But the government should not issue permits beyond its carrying capacity,” he said.
But Alappuzha Tourism Development Cooperative Society (ATDC) secretary T.G. Raghu is sceptical. “I don't know how effectively the department would implement it,” he said.
