The drowning of five persons at Pozhiyoor, near Poovar, has prompted the Poovar panchayat and the local police to decide upon an intensive drive against illegal boat services at the tourist spot.
A meeting of Poovar panchayat authorities, boat operators, and the Poovar police was convened here on Monday to discuss the issue. Few operators and even fewer drivers currently possess licences. The Ports Authority, despite several requests from the police and the panchayat, is yet to take any action on the illegal services.
Permission
O.A. Sunil, Circle Inspector, Poovar, said the panchayat had suggested that boat operations should be allowed only if the operators obtained permission for the same from the local body.
The drivers too would have to be given permission by the panchayat while the police would continue inspections on a regular basis to nab drivers who were at work without licences obtained either from the panchayat or the Ports Authority. Further modalities of the restrictions to be imposed would be worked out shortly, he said.
The police, he pointed out, had been conducting several raids, seizing illegally operating boats and arresting drivers who did not have licences. More than 20 boat clubs operate nearly 100 boats in the Poovar backwaters, a majority of them without licences.
Exorbitant charge
The fare charged by these boats too was exorbitant. A move early this year by the police forced the boat operators to finally display boards with the tariffs. However, with the Ports Authority remaining silent and the panchayat appearing on the scene only now, the rates are still determined by the operators.
Several of the resorts in the area too have their own boat services, the legal standings of which will now be under the scanner, the police said.
Ports Authority is yet
to take action against those operating
without licence.
