The Department of Ports will begin a crackdown on all tourist boats across the state which are yet to undergo stability tests as per the Kerala Inland Navigation Act, 2010. The officials have warned that the licences of all such boats will be suspended as part of the procedure.
On Saturday, the licences of six tourist boats plying on the Kochi backwaters were suspended after it was found that they had failed to undergo the stability test.
According to the port officials, the owners of the boats have been given detention orders and are not allowed to ply in the waters till the boats undergo the stability test. “We have alerted the police officials as well as the Coastal Department that the boats are detained and hence should be immediately docked if they are found plying in the waters again without the stability licence,” said Chief Surveyor of Ports, Ajayan.
He added that out of the 235 tourist boats that have been registered in Ernakulam sector, only 50 have so far undergone the test. In the state, not more than 150 boats out of the total 1,000 inland vessels are yet to take the stability test. “The KIV Act, 2010, strictly stipulates that all tourist boats should undergo the stability test. However, even three years after the act came into existence, hardly any boats have undergone the test or followed the norms. Some of the tourist boat operators have cited the lack of test centres as the reason for delay in getting the tests done.
However, Port officials have rubbished such allegations. “Six experts from Cusat were present to conduct the test. It has been three years since the act came into existence and lack of time cannot be an excuse for not getting the tests done,” said a port official.
Officials added that even though similar raids had taken place in the past, the violators were only fined. Now, however, it has been decided to suspend the licences of the erring boat owners. Ajayan added that in the case of Saturday’s raid, all the six tourist boats were carrying most passengers on the top deck.
“It is highly dangerous, since the boats have not undergone the stability test. As per the rule, two-thirds of the passengers should be travelling in the bottom deck to ensure safety of the boat,” he said.