ALAPPUZHA:The state government’s move to hasten the implementation of the seaplane project without a comprehensive study and due consideration to the concerns of fishermen in the region had cost the state coffers a whopping Rs 29 lakh.
The government has gone a step further and issued an administrative sanction (AS) for the shifting of the waterdrome constructed at Punnamada lake to Vattakayal in Vembanad lake.
The decision to shift the waterdrome was taken based on the recommendation of an expert committee appointed by the Kerala State Tourism Department. The waterdrome, in which the seaplanes are anchored, from the lake at Punnamada, was constructed by the Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL) on June 2, 2013. Following strident protest by the fishermen, the state government had suspended the service and shifted it from Punnamada. The fisherfolk and the greens had opposed the move and blocked the inaugural landing of the seaplane.
The government-appointed expert committee had given its nod for the project after conducting environment impact studies.
The committee, led by Tourism Secretary Suman Billa, comprised members VC Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies B Madhusoodana; K G Padmakumar, former associate director of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kumarakom; K Madhu, principal scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and KTIL managing director S Anilkumar.
The committee had submitted the report to the state government last year and the government gave AS on May 26. The study had inferred that the seaplane service would not affect the aquatic life in Vembanad lake. Punnamada is a suitable site to set the waterdrome, however, the thriving fishing activities in the adjoining areas has gone against its credit as a propitious location for the project.
Meanwhile, the Vattakayal has no regular fishing activities in its zone and is not located in the main stretch of the lake.
This factor had prompted the committee to relocate the waterdrome to Vattakayal, near Kainakari, the study cited. The committee conducted test flight observations at Andamans due to the unavailability of the seaplane in Vembanad and Ashtamudi.
A member of expert committee said that the seaplane did not have environmental or ecological stress on the lake. But the government should initiate steps to alleviate the apprehensions raised by the fishermen community.
The state government should implement projects to enhance employment opportunities of the fishermen community, the member said.
He said that the seaplane operation will not cause any pollution or adverse impact on the aquatic ecosystem of the water bodies.
