GOVERNMENT OF KEMTA

Abstract
port Department - Actions taken in the wake of recent fire incidents in the house
boats plyrng Vembanadu Lake - Orders issued.
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FISHERIES & PORTS (E) DEPARTMENT
G.O. (Rt) N o.B2/ 2020IF&PD Dated,Thiruvananthapuram, 74/ 02/ 2020.
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Read:-1. Minute\ of the meeting of the District Disaster Management
Authority, Alappuzha held on 25.01.2020.
2. D.O. Letter No.DMC6 /BIBB/2018 dated 3.2,2020 from the District
Collector, Alappuzha.
ORDER

In the wake of recent fire accidents of house boats in Vembanadu Lake, the
District Collector, Alappuzha requested the Port Officer, Alappuzha to attend the
meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority meeting held on 25.01.2020
with details of unregistered illegal plying house boats in the Vembanadu Lal<e. But
the port Officer, Alappuzha failed to attend the meeting. The District Collector, vide
letter read as 2nd paper above, reported that the Registering Authoriry and the Port
Officer, Alappuzha failed not only in controlling plying of the unregistered boats, but
also in ensuring safety standards in house boats and shikkaras. The District Collector
also reported that the above action has endangered public lives.

2. Government have examined the matter in detail and found that there was
gross negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of the Registering authority and
the port officer, Alappuzha. Two fire accidents have taken place in the past one
monrh and both of them failed to take action to control plying of unregistered illegal
houseboats in the backwaters. Further, during the recent outbreak of Corona virus,
there was no means to check on tourists on unregistered houseboats, since there was
no data available on the same. Therefore, Government in public interest directs the
Kerala Maritime Board to take the following steps immediately and report
compliance.
1. Sri.K.R.Vinorhu, who is holding the charge of Registering Authority is relieved
from the above post with immediate effect and Sri.M.J.Renjith, Engineer-in-
charge, who, holds the additional charge of Chief Surveyor be given the
charge of Registering Authority also.
2. Sri.Hari Achutha Warrier, Port Officer, Alappuzha be transferred with
immediate effect. Captain Abraham V.Kuriakose, Port Officer, Kollam be
transferred and posted as Port Officer, Alappuzha. He will also hold the
additional charge of Port Officer, Kollam.
3. The Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime Board is directed to form a task
force with multiple teams consisting of officials from Police, Revenue, Inland
Waterways and Pollution Control Board to start inspections of registered
houseboats to ensure that they are following all relevant rules under KlV.
'fhese inspections shall be completed within 15 days.
 4. The Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime Board is directed to initiate a
special drive to identify the unregistered houseboats, shikkaras, and other
motorized boats and steps be taken to register the eligible vessels within one
monrh and take acrion against the others as per Kerala Inland Vessels Rules
and to furnish a report to Government within 20 days.
5. The Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime Board to ensure that the on line
web portal for registration of inland vessels is launched within one month. An
online tracking mechanism (similar to those used by the Fisheries
department) of houseboats is also to be put in place within 3 months.
6. Training sessions for houseboat owners and staffs plying the houseboats are to
be started within one month.
7. The Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime Board shall have discussions
with District Administration, State Pollution Control Board, District Tourism
Promotion Council and other concerned agencies to implement a
comprehensive waste discharge systems for houseboats.
B. Since there is scarcity of land for seizing illegal house boats, the Registering
Authority shall seek assistance from the District Police Chief for the custody
and storage of illegal houseboats and to deal with provisions of CrPC.
9. The Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime Board, with the help of District
Tourism Promotion Council to start a media campaign to make awareness
among tourists to not use unregistered houseboats, shikkaras and other
motorized boats. The Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime Board, shall
submit a proposal for the posting of the relieved officers.

(By order of the Governor)

P. T. JOY
DEPUTY SECRETARY
To:
,Ahe Chairman, Kerala Maritime Board, Thiruvananthapuram.
/h" Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime Board, Thiruvananthapuram.
,y'h" persons concerned (through Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Maritime
Board, Thiruvananthapuram.)
,.Ihe State Police Chiel Thiruvanananthapuram.
-Zhe Director, Tourism Department.
Jh" District Collector, Alappuzha.
,Ahe Secretary, District Tourism Promotion Council, Thiruvananthapuram.
,,Zhe Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Principal Accountant General (A&E)/(Audit), Kerala,
Thiruvananthapuram
SF/OC
Forwarded ,/tsv,order
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