Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) has procured five electrical outbound motors from Japan to operate boat services in Pykara lake in Ooty.The move comes after a special bench of the Madras high court recently imposed a temporary ban on boating services in the lake, highlighting the environmental consequences caused by fuel-driven motorboats. The court had also directed ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC) Research Centre in Ooty and Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (Sacon) to conduct a study to assess the sound and water contamination, and produce a copy of the reports. According to a TTDC source, IISWC scientists have collected water samples and sent the same to Nagpur for the reports. “The basic soil and water components could be identified here. But the court specifically wanted reports on the components of petrol/diesel in the soil and water, for which the technology isn’t available here. The reports will arrive in a week.” Meanwhile, Sacon has quoted about Rs25 lakh to conduct the study to assess the sound and water contamination for three months, which has to undergo a departmental sanction. “Since we don’t have much time, we have decided to switch to electrical outbound motors to operate boats. We have placed orders for five such motors, the trail run of which has been scheduled for April 3. Step by step, we will replace all fuel-driven motors. This is the peak tourist season in the Nilgiris, and we want to resume boating service as early as possible,” a tourism official said. The official said the transition of electrical outbound motors would approximately cost Rs3 crore to Rs3.5 crore. “India currently imports electrical outbound motor spares from Japan and assembles them here. For speed boats, electrical outbound motor spares are not available. The motor comes with the boats.” It is to be noted that nine of the 31 boats being operated in Pykara lake are speed boats. “We have to order new speed boats that come with electrical outbound motors. It’s a costly affair. Also, resuming the speed boat services in that case will take at least eight months to a year,” the official said.
