Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

DTPC suspends boating services

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Following directive by Tourism Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has suspended all boating services in the Neyyar Dam reservoir, Akkulam tourist village and Kappil in the district as a majority of the 42 boats owned by it do not have the mandatory fitness certificate.

The decision to suspend the services comes in the wake of the directive issued by Minister for Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that only boats having the fitness certificate and meeting all safety norms should be allowed to operate. DTPC Secretary N. Subramoniam told The Hindu that the services of all boats, including row and pedal boats, were suspended. "Steps have been taken to rectify the snags and problems in the roof of 25 boats and to obtain certificate. Tenders have already been invited for this," he added.

Fitness certificate

Mr. Subramoniam said he had submitted a report about the status of the boats to the District Collector, who is also the chairman of the DTPC. Mr. Subramoniam is to meet the Chief Inspector of Boats in Alappuzha on Saturday to discuss the fitness certificate issue. "Steps will be taken to ensure that the boat services commence within a week," he added.

Tourism sources said life jackets were not being insisted upon for those taking a ride in Thenmala, Peppara, and Lower Meenmutty despite them being made mandatory in 1995 following the death of a tourist after a speedboat capsized in Veli Lake in the city. Sources said there should also be a crackdown in places such as Thiruvallam where local people operate boat services for tourists flouting all safety norms.

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