Aborted Seaplane project converted into dam plane service

Thiruvananthapuram: Pinarayi Vijayan government has decided to turn the aborted ambitious sea plane project that was envisaged during the 2011-16 Oommen Chandy government into a dam plane project. The project was abandoned due to large scale protest from the fisher folk community.

The original project by the Chandy government proposed the landing of sea planes on water bodies in lakes and rivers. The new project essentially involves the same, but the landing of such planes is to be inside catchment areas of numerous dams in the state.

Chandy's project was shot down by inland fishermen who eke out a living fishing in lakes and rivers stating that their primary vocation of fishing might get affected because of frequent landing and takeoff by these sea planes.

According to sources, the same project of sea planes has taken a new shape and the proposed landing and takeoff is now proposed to take place in the catchment areas of the dams.

In Kerala, dams are the properties of the Kerala State Electricity Board and the Kerala Water Authority and so far there have been keen interests shown by about half-a-dozen companies.

If this project turns out to be a success, then the biggest gainer would be the tourism industry in the state as tourists can reach several prime destinations in the state by air, cutting a lot of travel time as roads in the state are congested.

(With inputs from IANS)