Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the Chilika boat mishap that claimed six persons, the state government Saturday decided to make it mandatory for boat riders to wear life jackets while being ferried across rivers and in lakes across the state.
The government has also decided to ensure installation of GPS system in all the boats ferrying tourists in Chilika lake, where the mishap has occurred last week.
Commerce and Transport Minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu Saturday told reporters, “Wearing of life jackets by the boat passengers will be made mandatory hereafter and GPS will also be installed in every boat involved in transporting passengers.“
Asked about measures being taken to ensure use of life jackets by passengers boarding boats, he said, “Henceforth, the district administrations would engage a surveyor for each boat ferrying passengers in the lake. The surveyors will see to it that every passenger wears life jacket. Besides, each boat will be fitted with GPS navigation device to alert its exact location inside the lake and provide advance weather information to the boatman.”
According to the report submitted by the Port and Inland Water Transport director, apart from gusty wind, poor condition of the boat was responsible for the tragic incident. There were a number of cracks in the boat through which lake water entered leading to the tragedy. Hence, action would also be initiated against the boat owner, the minister said.
“We had provided adequate number of life jackets and lifebuoys to boat operators. Our investigation into the tragedy has revealed that passengers did not use the protective gears available to them. Had they used the jackets, they would have been saved and casualties could have been avoided,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has convened a high-level meeting to chalk out reforms with a view to ensuring safety and security of passengers travelling in boats and vessels. Registration of all boats would be mandatory for ferrying passengers, he added.
Notably, a country boat carrying 15 passengers with two boatmen capsized in the lake June 16 due to strong winds accompanied by thundershowers while they were returning from Kalijai Temple at around 5.30pm.
While six tourists drowned, nine others were rescued by a joint team of the Balugan Boat Owners’ Association, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, Fire Brigade, local fishermen and scuba divers.
PNN
