Draft recommendations of a nine-member committee constituted by the state government to study the safety protocols governing the houseboat industry seek to rein in those houseboat operators who have been neglecting all safety norms prescribed by the state government and the Port Department.
The committee, led by Tourism Secretary Suman Billa, was formed after a major houseboat tragedy took place here on January 26. Its report will be submitted to the government this month, says C Pradeep, Secretary of the District Tourism Promotion Council.
The committee’s report has asked the government to publish a list of safe houseboats on the DTPC website. These houseboats will have having the stability certificate issued by the Port Department. Over 1,200 houseboats ply in the Alappuzha backwaters. However, less than 150 houseboats have the stability certificate, the report says.
It also recommends setting up of a houseboat tracking system for ensuring the protection of tourists and houseboat employees. The report has asked the government to set up six houseboat terminals in the Alappuzha backwaters.
The DTPC has already identified sites for the terminals in Thanneermukkom, Nedumudi, Pallathuruthy, Muhamma, Kanjipadam, Karumadi and Vilakkumaram. The DTPC will set up information counters at the terminals and the tourists who come for houseboat cruising will have collect their boarding pass from these counters.
It has asked the government to set up 20 to 25 boat jetties at the houseboat terminal at Punnamada. Alappuzha District Collector N Padmakumar is the convener of the committee.