Ferry boats operate sans registration, licence

Most of the boats engaged in ferry ghats for carrying passengers in the district here do not have registration and valid documents. They carry passengers beyond capacity by violating the norms.

Though the State Government earlier had directed the district administration to ensure that boats operate without being overcrowded and they should have registration and licence, but the direction is yet to be carried out in true letter and spirit.

Notably, after the Hirakud boat tragedy, a high level meeting was held on last February 13 under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, which had delegated powers under Section 2(b) of the Odisha Boat Rules, 2004 to the district Collectors to appoint engineers from any department posted in their respective district as surveyors for the purpose of survey and licencing of boat and boatmen.

It was directed that the renewal and licencing of registered boat has to be carried out by the surveyors appointed by the district Collector. In case of registration of new boat, the district administration has to inform the respective registering authority, the Commerce and Transport department, after a survey certificate is submitted by the surveyors.

The Kendrapada district administration also constituted a committee to crosscheck the licence validity and capacity of the boats. It had directed all the boats, motor boats and passenger  launches to register their boats and obtain licence for ferrying in the rivers before last  May 30 last.

It had also directed all the boat operators to keep life jackets and fire extinguishers in their boats to use during emergency time. The administration had warned that boats could be confiscated and legal action could be initiated against them if the operators did not abide by the guidelines.

As many as 53 ferry ghats have been functioning in the district. While 18 ferry ghats are operating in Mahakalapada, 12 are operating in Garadpur, eight in Rajkanika, six in Aul block, four in Rajnagar block, two each in  Pattamundai and Derabish blocks and one ferry ghat is operating in Kendrapara block. However, all the boats in the ferry ghats are operating without registration and licence.

District Emergency Officer Rajnikant Mohanty said keeping in view violations of boat laws, the BDOs of the district had been directed to submit report on number boats given renewal and licencing. He said that the report would be submitted before the district Collector for taking steps against the errant boat owners.