Majority of the boats
that cruise Kerala waters have no valid license. Out of the over 5000 boats
that are used for civil and tourist cruising, only 920 boats have a legal
license and out of which 50 are of the water transport department of the
Kerala government.
This means that about 870 boats
including Passenger boats, House boats, Luxury boats, Jankars and speed
boats with no license are running up and down the waters of Kerala right
now. Out of the 600 house boats which are at service in state only 320 have
the fitness certificate. According to the rules, the boats will be legally
allowed to run the water only after it gets the fitness certificate from the
Chief Inspector of Boats and then gets the Canal License.
To provide service, within the
borders of cochin port, it will be enough to have the license of the port
but again only about 200 boats have received the ports license. Looking at these
numbers, one can naturally have serious doubts on the safety of our waters
and of the tourist who cruise them.
Next :
No dearth of rules