Govt guarantees to pay fares to revive seaplane initiative

KOCHI: With assembly election hardly a year away, the government is in a hurry to revive the controversial seaplane project 'at any cost'. To get an investor, they have guaranteed to pay the fare for four seats in the nine-seater seaplane. In other words, whether the seaplane operator has passengers or not, the government will pay the fare every trip.The government's desperation stems from the fact that no investor has expressed interest in the project when bid was called last time.
The government order, signed by chief secretary in-charge Nalini Netto says that the government will guarantee four seats each trip; the minimum and maximum trip durations are 30 minutes and 60 minutes respectively. Four trips will be allowed each day for 250 days for the next two years from the date of operation by a particular operator, it says.
An official of Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL) official, coordinating agency for the project, said: "The aim is to attract operators because last time no one turned up when the early bid incentive was invited. Fishermen were protesting against the project then. The guarantee of four seats is to convince the operator that they won't lose money. The early bid incentive will be granted to two on a first-come-first-served basis."
Senior officials of government department, state public sector undertakings, government guests will be eligible to travel on the guaranteed seats in addition to tourism promotion activities and familiarization tours organized by the tourism department.
A committee constituted by the government for fixing the rate will give approval. If the guaranteed seats have been filled, the officer authorized by the government can travel in the remaining seats as per rates fixed by the committee for government travel (Rs 30/km). For bookings, a web portal will be made available by the general administration (political) and maintained by KTIL.
The project was stalled for the past two years following the protest by fishermen as they fear that the project will affect their livelihood. Kerala Malsyathozhilali Aikyavedi (TUCI) president Charles George said: "Officials will separate a vast area for the waterdrome to anchor seaplanes and prohibit fishing in that area. More than that the turbidity, resulting from take-off and landings, will affect aquatic life. We will not allow the project to go ahead."
Meanwhile, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies vice-chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup, who was part of the expert committee on environment impact of the project said: "The project won't affect the livelihood of fishermen and the environment. There won't be any construction for the waterdrome which will need only 500 sq m." Seaplane service is now available in Andaman � Nicobar and Mumbai.