Kerala - Alappuzha   

Boats without proper licence fined

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: An inspection conducted by officials of the Irrigation Department on houseboats and motorboats plying the canals and backwaters of Alappuzha on Monday has revealed the presence of a considerable number of boats without valid licences.

As many as 15 houseboats and 23 motor boats were fined for having no valid licence.

The inspection began at 8.30 a.m. The officials said they inspected as many as 68 houseboats and 34 motorboats by evening.

They said many crew members also did not have valid documents. Though a 10-member police team accompanied the officials in the morning to give them protection, they returned to the station after a few hours.

The Irrigation officials also served notices on boats for having seating facilities on the deck.

They have been given three days to remove the seats. Seats on deck are banned according to the Canal Act.

The inspection will continue in the coming days. Alappuzha Irrigation Executive Engineer P.D. Joseph and Assistant Engineer (Canal Section) Joy Janardhanan led the inspection.

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Boats without proper licence fined

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