The Hindu Business Line : Kerala houseboats under scanner

Thiruvananthapuram, July 29The Kerala State Pollution Control Board is gearing to take action against owners of houseboats that operate without proper waste disposal arrangements and required permission from the board.

This has become necessary in the context of rising levels of pollution in the lakes and the spread of epidemics in Alappuzha district, said Mr G. Rajmohan, Chairman of the board.

He said in a statement here on Saturday that it had come to the notice of the board that houseboats and other passenger boats fitted with two-stroke outboard engines, which was illegal, were still operating in the district.

Besides, the houseboat owners appeared to be reluctant to comply with the directive of Kerala Lok Ayukta with respect to installation of plants for disposal of bio-tank wastes.

The deadline for the installation of such a plant at Punnamada had been extended several times and though the Tourism Department had assured the board that it would be done by March 31, 2007, no steps had been taken in this direction till date. Any further extension of the deadline was not justifiable, the statement said.

In the circumstances, the board has been forced to take action against erring houseboat owners in order to ensure the safety of the lakes and inland waterways.

Environment safety

At a time when the board has initiated stringent measures against pollution caused by hospitals, fish processing and coir sectors, the problem created by hundreds of houseboats has come in the way of its environmental protection activities, the statement noted.

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