The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has announced a survey to determine the vessel-carrying capacity of the scenic and environmentally sensitive Vembanad Lake, given the glut of registered and unregistered houseboats, speedboats, and other tourist vessels operating in Kerala’s major backwater tourism destination in Kuttanad in Alappuzha district.

Replying to a calling attention motion by Thomas K. Thomas, LDF’s legislator from Kuttanad, Health Minister Veena George said the Central Water Resources department had flagged that the commercial vessels, including speed boats and pleasure cruise boats, in Vembanad were much above the lake’s carrying capacity.

Ms. George was speaking on behalf of Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, who is in Delhi.

Ms. George said the surplus of commercial vessels severely strained the expansive lake’s fragile marine ecology, raising questions about the environmental sustainability of backwater tourism and the livelihood of fishers and farmers in the Kuttanad region.

HC permission sought

Ms. George said the government has sought the High Court’s permission to conduct the survey, given the number of litigations concerning the issue pending in the judiciary.

Ms. George said the Kerala State Pollution Control Board would only permit houseboats with onboard sewage biotank facilities to apply for registration with the Kerala Ports department.

She also promised to install more sewage treatment plants along Vembanad lake to prevent raw sewage from households, resorts, and houseboats from seeping into the scenic lake, thereby endangering marine life and threatening its ecosystem.

Pollution control norms ‘disregarded’

Mr. Thomas told the Assembly that, by a conservative estimate, at least 900 houseboats operated in lake without official registration.

He said the lawbreakers in the trade disregarded pollution control norms, including the ban on using plastic on board vessels. He noted that houseboats discharged raw sewage and pantry waste into the lake surreptitiously when anchored for the night with tourists on board.

Moreover, he demanded proper audit and security clearance for the boat crew, including their proficiency in handling cruise boats when Vembanad’s waters become choppy in inclement weather. 

Mr. Thomas also demanded a regular audit of the structural safety of houseboats, including verification of adherence to passenger and fire safety norms, as well as the provision of life jackets and instructions on safe practices on board tourism vessels. 

He said Vembanad Lake was silting up fast. He demanded regular dredging to reclaim the lake’s depth. He requested a shipping channel through the middle of the lake to facilitate the passage of freight and tourists to Kochi, making it easier and more environmentally friendly. 

Mr. Thomas also sought government support for marketing Kuttanad’s specialities, including local produce such as pearl spot fish, freshwater clams, toddy, and poultry, including duck eggs and meat. He said plastic litter and uncontrolled growth of water weeds, including hyacinths, were a bane for Vembanad.