Houseboat operations in Vembanad exceed sustainable limits by 200%, says CWRDM study

Key Points

1. Houseboat operations in Vembanad Lake exceed sustainable carrying capacity by nearly 200%.
2. The permissible number of houseboats is 461, while over 1,625 are registered.
3. A drone survey counted 926 houseboats, with a discrepancy of 105 vessels presumed to be operating without registration.
4. Average passenger utilization efficiency was 205.2%, with 83.5% of vessels exceeding legal passenger limits.
5. The report recommends reductions of 58–80% across all boat types to restore ecological balance.
6. The study was conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode, and submitted to the State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK).
7. The report suggests legally restricting houseboats registered outside the Alappuzha Port Registry.