The efforts of Aranmula, a central Travancore village renowned for its heritage and traditions, to work its way into the tourism map have received a fillip with the State government approving operation of motor boats on the Pampa river.
In a recent notification, the Department of Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation declared the Aranmula-Chengannur stretch of the Pampa ‘as a line of navigation’ under the Travancore Public Canals and Public ferries Act, 1096 M.E for launching a new boat service. As per the Act, which came into effect in 1920, no passenger boats are permitted to ply on the river.
The decision, taken at a meeting convened by the Chief Secretary, comes in response to a petition seeking permission to operate tourist vessels through the Pampa put forth by the Aranmula Vikasana Samiti to Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine. The request is backed with recommendations from the Irrigation and Inland Navigation departments, besides the Tourism, Water Resources, and Law departments.
