Police, SWTD monitor movements via Vembanad

KOCHI: As Ernakulam district sealed its borders with Kottayam, the city police and officials with the state water transport department are constantly monitoring movement of water transport through Vembanad lake, particularly that of country boats. Many regions in Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alappuzha are along the banks of Vembanad lake and residents use country boats to cross over to the various places on the opposite bank.There are local jetties and ferry points which facilitate movement of country boats and canoes.
Senior officials with city police said they have stepped up surveillance along the banks of the lake. Police personnel will have to monitor jetties and the regions along the banks of Vembanad lake within their limits. “People who cross the lake from Kottayam or Idukki district and reach Ernakulam will have to go into quarantine in Ernakulam,” said a senior police official.
Shaji V Nair, director, state water transport department (SWTD) said if all big and small roads including pockets roads leading to banks of the lake are sealed, it will not be possible for residents to cross over to neighbouring Kottayam from Ernakulam or Alappuzha districts. “May be people residing very close to the backwaters might take the risk to cross over to the neighbouring districts by country boats. When roads are blocked citizens from faraway places will not be able to reach the banks of the lakes. Trying to reach the banks by walking will be tiring and a risky affair,” he said.
“SWTD operates ambulance boats in the backwaters. Essential services providers are given time slots and they can travel in these ambulance boat,” he added.
Meanwhile, Alappuzha collector M Anjana said police have already intensified patrolling in the backwaters and other watersbodies. “Except for transportation of goods, there is no movement along waterbodies,” she said.