Vembanad houseboats fined Rs 1.17 crore for pollution violations since 2021
Alappuzha: Houseboats operating on Vembanad Lake were fined a total of Rs 1,17,34,560 by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board for pollution-related violations between 2021 and 2025. A further Rs 4.76 lakh was collected in fines between January and June 30, 2026.
Despite the substantial fines collected over the years, concerns remain over the lack of adequate waste-management facilities for houseboats and the effectiveness of inspections by the Pollution Control Board.
Fines peaked in 2024
The highest amount was collected in 2024, when fines imposed on houseboats totalled Rs 42.70 lakh. The year-wise figures are:
| Year | Fine collected |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Rs 10.81 lakh |
| 2022 | Rs 18.52 lakh |
| 2023 | Rs 20.36 lakh |
| 2024 | Rs 42.70 lakh |
| 2025 | Rs 24.94 lakh |
Vembanad Lake has around 1,500 houseboats operating from the Alappuzha region alone. Many of them reportedly lack proper waste-treatment facilities, raising concerns that sewage and other waste are being discharged directly into the lake.
Waste-treatment facilities remain inadequate
The Pollution Control Board previously operated a waste-treatment plant at R Block. However, after it became non-functional, it was neither repaired nor replaced with a new one.
The lack of adequate waste-treatment infrastructure has contributed to repeated reports of large-scale waste dumping in Vembanad Lake and prompted intervention by the National Green Tribunal. Following the intervention, waste from houseboats was taken to a treatment plant at Kumarakom in Kottayam. However, that arrangement was eventually discontinued, leaving waste management in a poor state.
Although the Tourism Department, Ports Department and Pollution Control Board generate significant revenue from activities connected to Vembanad Lake, concerns have been raised over their limited efforts to establish and maintain adequate waste-treatment facilities.
A treatment plant constructed by the Tourism Department is reportedly unusable, but no effective action has been taken to address the issue. The Pollution Control Board has prepared a new project to tackle waste management, but progress has reportedly been slow.