Protests intensify against unregulated houseboat operations in Vembanad Lake
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Protests intensify against unregulated houseboat operations in Vembanad Lake

The Hindu  

Protests are mounting over unregulated houseboat operations in Vembanad Lake, a Ramsar site and the second-largest wetland system in India. Inland fishers, environmentalists and organisations representing houseboats registered with the Alappuzha Port Registry have called for urgent action to restrict vessels registered in other districts from operating in the waters of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. Though the Alappuzha Port Registry, covering Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, ceased issuing new houseboat licences more than a decade ago, the restriction has had little impact. According to Jomon Konnakkappally, president, Kerala Houseboat Owners Association approximately 500 unregulated houseboats are currently operating within the Ramsar site, leading to overcrowding, pollution and ecological imbalance. The Matsya Thozhilali Congress has petitioned the Kerala High Court to prohibit boats registered in other districts from operating in the backwaters.

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History of this topic

1,170 notices served for illegal discharge of sewage into Vembanad, Ashtamudi lakes
3 weeks, 6 days ago

1,170 notices served for illegal discharge of sewage into Vembanad, Ashtamudi lakes

The Hindu  

A total of 1,170 notices have been served on industrial units, apartment complexes, houseboats and hotels located close to Vembanad and Asthamudi lakes for violation of norms under the Water Act, 1974, according to official estimates. The erring units either did not have valid consent issued by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to operate a treatment facility or lacked …

Local boat owners seek action to regulate non-Kerala boats at Beypore
6 months, 1 week ago

Local boat owners seek action to regulate non-Kerala boats at Beypore

The Hindu  

Fishing boat owners from Beypore have called upon the Fisheries department authorities to restrict the uncontrolled entry of non-Kerala fishing boats to the Beypore harbour considering the yet-to-be addressed space constraints in the area. According to them, several non-Kerala boat operators leave their boats near the harbour under the pretext of mechanical issues, potentially jeopardising the safe operation of local …

Kerala’s houseboat sector in uncharted waters
2 years, 2 months ago

Kerala’s houseboat sector in uncharted waters

The Hindu  

Three young IT professionals from Velachery in Chennai travelled all the way to Alappuzha at the start of the last southwest monsoon season to experience a relaxing houseboat ride and stay. Illegal operations threatens businesses It is half past eight in the morning and the road leading to the Punnamada Finishing Point, the hub of houseboat tourism in Alappuzha, is …

Drive against illegal houseboats continues in Alappuzha
2 years, 9 months ago

Drive against illegal houseboats continues in Alappuzha

The Hindu  

Kerala ports department, which launched a drive more than two months ago against houseboats flouting norms in Alappuzha, has so far impounded 36 vessels. According to the Ports department, as many as 1,588 mechanically propelled boats, including houseboats, shikhara boats, and speedboats, are registered with the Alappuzha Port Registry. Houseboats registered in other districts continue to operate in Alappuzha waters …

Bar on houseboats cheers all
11 years, 2 months ago

Bar on houseboats cheers all

Deccan Chronicle  

Alappuzha: The government order to stop issuing licences for constructing new houseboats in Alappuzha came into force this month. Welcoming the new order, N. Sreekumar, general secretary, All Kerala Houseboat Owners’ Association told Deccan Chronicle that the order banning new houseboats was a long standing demand of the association. P. Sreekandan Nair, director, department of Environment and Climate Change told …

Real estate mafia uprooting mangroves, say Kochi environmentalists
11 years, 5 months ago

Real estate mafia uprooting mangroves, say Kochi environmentalists

The Hindu  

Prominent environmental activists from Kochi surveyed the mangroves on Mulavakad island here on Tuesday, only to find that much of the mangrove wealth of the region had been destroyed in the name of development activities. Ramsar site “We were shocked to observe that the Vembanad Lake, a Ramsar site, is being invaded by the real estate mafia,” said activist S. …

Houseboat owners seek exemption
14 years, 9 months ago

Houseboat owners seek exemption

The Hindu  

Houseboats must be excluded from the purview of the Inland Vessel Rules, 2010, the All Kerala Houseboat Owners' Association has demanded. Houseboats cannot be compared to tourist vessels and passenger ferries, since these traditional vessels are never crowded beyond their capacity. The insistence on houseboats and workers conforming to these new rules would affect the sector and result in around …

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