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Vajpayee agrees to houseboat ride

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will get a feel of the placid ambience of the sprawling Vembanad lake at Kumarakom, as he finally agreed to a ride in a specially-erected houseboat within two days even if the wet weather in Kerala continues.

The boat, Vaikundam (abode of Lord Vishnu), being kept ready for the premier by the Kerala Tourism Department, has a unique huge deck to facilitate him to catch a clear glimpse of Vembanad, the swirling backwaters that stretches more than 70 km southward from Kochi.

The 10-room boat has a thatched roof to withstand heat and rain. It is battery-operated as security officials had refused to allow the usual system of operating it by four to six oarsmen. The interior is fitted with traditional Kerala lamps and cane chairs, to create an ethnic ambience.

''Our objective is to create a lifetime experience for the prime minister. An ethereal experience,'' Tourism Secretary Amitabh Kant told UNI Thursday.

Kant said the deck was unusually spacious so that the prime minister could relax and see the magnificence of the lake.

''The boat is the best eco-tourism product of Kerala,'' Kant said.

Though the exact time of the ride in the houseboat is not known, tourism officials hope that it will be either on December 29 or 30.

''Even if the rain continues, the ride will happen,'' an official said.

Vajpayee Wednesday enjoyed the magic touch of the lake during a stroll along the courtyard of the Taj Retreat, but had to withdraw to his room within minutes due to a drizzle.

A major problem facing the authorities was the presence of African paayal (a king of floating weeds), which is considered a ''security risk''.

Though the weeds, in a large portion overlooking the Taj Retreat Garden, where Vajpayee is staying, had been removed a week ago, still more of the area had to be cleared of the weed to facilitate the premier to have a ride in an expanded area.

Meqanwhile, it was officially announced that Vajpayee has not undergone any ayurvedic treatment.

''It is a vacation and not a stay for treatment,'' a top official said.

Reacting sharply to press reports that the prime minister had undergone ayurvedic treatment Wednesday as he had problem in his left knee following a recent surgery, the official said, ''How can you say it was ayurvedic treatment? Vajpayee had taken an oil bath after a body massage. This was done only for rejuvenation.''

An ayurvedic physician attached to the Taj Garden Retreat said, ''The chill climate at Kumarakom is good for ayurvedic therapy. But no treatment is possible considering his short stay.''

As rain continued, Vajpayee confined himself to his hotel room for the third day Thursday, reading books from a special library set up by the Kerala Tourism Department.

UNI

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