Kerala - Alappuzha   

Houseboats operate in Alappuzha despite warning

Staff Reporter

Non-cooperation of police alleged

ALAPPUZHA: A large number of houseboats on which the irrigation authorities imposed fines for not complying with the norms for conducting services are back in service without satisfying norms and paying scant regard to directives, Water Resources Department officials have said.

Speaking to The Hindu, Inspector of Boats G. Sali said non-cooperation of the police and the authorities with the inspection despite request from him and other officials resulted in the present situation.

Mr. Sali said they had informed the District Superintendent of Police and the District Collector about the inspection and sought police protection.

But, there was total non-cooperation, he said.

Mr. Sali said they started intensive inspection from February 21 and till now completed inspection of 168 houseboats.

63 boats fined

Of this, 63 were fined for violating norms and nine that violated all norms were seized.

He said that 23 motorboats were also fined for minor violations.

Altogether, fines to the tune of Rs.84,000 were imposed, said Mr. Sali.

But the houseboats that were fined were continuing service without complying with the norms, he said. Mr. Sali said the inspection team needed the help of the police to seize the boats.

He said a houseboat which was declared seized by the inspection team on Tuesday continued to operate on Wednesday as the police were reluctant to seize it.

"While inspecting a houseboat, we found a crew in a drunken state and requested the police to take action. But nothing happened,' said Mr. Sali.

He pointed out that without the cooperation of the police and the district authorities the whole exercise would be futile.

Meanwhile, Collector K.R. Viswambharan said he did not receive any request from the inspection team for police protection.

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