Controversial Sea Place Service to Resume Soon

Seaplanes services since 2012 has become an issue as it is facing a opposition from the fishermen community and urging the tourism department to stop as it would bring an adverse impact over the livelihood of hundreds of fishermen of Kerala. But even after so many complications and opposition, it seems the service will resume after the general elections of this year are over.

According to the officials of Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL), the operations of the seaplanes would begin by the end of April or in May.

The fishermen opposition against the service is yet to be consider as the expert committee constituted to study the impact is yet to submit it final report. The committee has made discussions a month ago, but opportunity of making a spot study of landing and takeoff is not received as the only seaplane which was brought for the inaugural service at Kollam has also been taken back to Bangalore.

 

The preparation of the flight service is in full swing and the three operators are willing to provide the services, the KTIL officials said.

Orders given for craft

Order for making craft for operations in Kerala has been already given to the U.S. based company, a Kochi based operator told The Hindu. The sea planes are ready and for the operations it will be brought soon, he said.  A representative of one of the operator said, the company plans to lunch operations between Kochi and Lakshadweep. 

Flight services are also being planned from Bekal in Northern Kerala to destinations in Karnataka. The plane will also be used for emergency services like evacuation during natural disaster and transporting patient during emergency medical treatment.

Sea plane operator is also set to launch operations in Mumbai, to connect place where there is lack of proper connectivity for places of tourist interest. The service is assumed to start by the end of March, according to sources in the industry.

Meanwhile the fishermen who protested about the adverse effect of seaplane service in backwater have withstood with their demand. The demands of the fishermen are backed by various trade unions and during the election period the unions will take softer stand. 

The issue has become a major one as some of the political parties are taking it serious as the community is a potential vote bank. Some of the parties have gathered strength as large number of fishermen live along the coastal areas of backwaters and Kerala.