Houseboats get the blame for lake pollution

Every time there is a public outcry on pollution of water-bodies in
Kuttanad, particularly the Vembanad Lake, the 600-odd houseboats
operating in the region are among the first to be blamed. However, a
close look at the ground reality reveals that though there is no
denying the role of the houseboats in pollution, there are a few
others too who have an indirect but definite share of the blame. It is
a well-known fact that only around 100 of the 600-plus houseboats
operating in the Vembanad Lake and the surrounding canals and rivers
have valid Pollution Control Certificates (PCC) since they have
onboard sewage treatment facilities. The rest, who should have
registered themselves with Government sewage treatment plants for
obtaining the PCC, have not been able to do so since the treatment
plant at Alappuzha is still on paper. Though this has been repeatedly
raised at several public platforms by environmentalists and various
other quarters, calling for speedy completion of the treatment plant
at Punnamada in Alappuzha, work is yet to begin on the plant. There
have been no takers for the tenders issued by the District Tourism
Promotion Council for the project that was sanctioned more than two
years back, according to official sources. Interestingly, the delay in
the establishment of the sewage plant has not stopped houseboat owners
from paying the requisite fee for the PCC to the local Pollution
Control Board office, or the officials from receiving the fees. The
fee receipt is brandished whenever the PCC is asked for. The case of
the canal licence, which along with the PCC and a fitness certificate,
is necessary for houseboats to conduct operations, is similar. The PCC
is mandatory for the canal licence to be issued. But here too,
officials have received the requisite fee for the canal licence,
reasoning that houseboat owners have paid for the PCC and are waiting
for completion of the treatment plant to obtain it. "It all boils down
to the delay in setting up the treatment plant. Once that is done,
there can be stringent action on those operating without the PCC. Till
then, it is a case of mutual understanding," an official explains.

The Hindu, June 23