THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The draft of the rules being framed in the State for implementing the Inland Vessels Act has recommended, among other things, that life jackets and lifebuoys are to be made compulsory in all passenger and tourist boats.
A seven-member committee, headed by Inland Water Authority of India former member (technical) R M Nair, appointed by the State Government to frame comprehensive rules has submitted the draft rules. The government is convening a high level meeting next week of various stakeholders to take a decision on them.
The rules, once finalised, will deal comprehensively with all aspects of inland navigation; safety measures, licences and guidelines for vessels included. The committee was appointed on April 10, 2008, to frame the rules as the Centre was planning to lift an old exemption given to Travancore and Kochi states when the Inland Vessels Act, 1917 was implemented in the country.
''Kochi and Travancore states and Jammu and Kashmir were then exempted.
We had separate Acts and rules. For example, the Travancore Public Canals Act and the Public Ferries Act and corresponding rules. Now the Centre is planning to withdraw that exemption. The Centre will frame the rules concerning pollution, but the State has to formulate the main rules,'' a committee member said.
Interestingly, he said the rules for Travancore specifically mention Thekkady as one place where safety precautions should be followed to the hilt, possibly because it was a remote place then.
With R M Nair as chairman, the committee included Rear Admiral (Retd) B R Menon; E Elankovan, scientist, NATPAC; IWAI director S Dandapath; Irrigation chief engineer (mechanical) T P Premchand; chief inspector of boats M Mathews and Cochin Port Trust deputy conservator Capt P N Joseph.
