Kerala’s water transport becomes tobacco smoke-free

Kerala’s famed inland water transport that provides a cheap, efficient and pleasant mode of transport to over 25 million passengers a year has another feather to its cap — it is now completely tobacco smoke-free.

Reply to an RTI query filed with the State Water Transport Department reveals that all its 56 serviceable boats in Kerala have displayed ‘No Smoking’ signages as a measure of warning and protecting passengers from the ills of tobacco smoke.

These boats ply in the waterlogged districts of Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasargod.

Alappuzha district has 28 boats, accounting for 50 per cent of the total boats and servicing around 35,000 passengers a day.  The other boats are in Ernakulam (9); Kottayam (7); Kollam (4); Kasargod (2); Kannur (1) and 5 spare boats.

Shri Shaji V Nair, Director of Alappuzha-based State Water Transport Department, said, “We have taken strict measures to ensure that smoking is not permitted in any of the boats under the Department. This is done for two reasons: safeguard passengers from second-hand smoke and keep the water bodies free from cigarette and bidi stubs litter.”

Shri Nair stated that “the boat master who is the captain of the boat has been directed to keep a strict vigil. Special squads have been formed to inspect any cases of smoking onboard. Action is taken against the errant staff member if the inspection reveals inaction against any complaints of smoking in the boats.”

Shri Anilkumar Pandala, an expert in the transport sector, said, “Kerala’s water transport being smoke-free is a significant step forward towards achieving total smoke-free public places.”

Shri Pandala, who is Associate Vice President, IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd., noted that public transport in the state is mostly free of smoking. “We have a strict law that prohibits smoking in public places; it provides a strong foundation. Strict enforcement of the law and making it uniformly applicable to all is important.”

Shri Pandala also called upon enforcement officials to ensure that smoking is prohibited in public places such as bus stands and bus stops.

Smoking is prohibited in all public places under Section 4 of the Indian tobacco control law, COTPA, 2003. Public conveyances fall under the definition of a public place of this legislation.