The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Chief Secretary directing him to submit replies in four weeks regarding boat capsizes and actions taken by the State Government in stopping such tragedies in the State.
The apex human rights panel issued the notice in response to a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
In the first week of January 2019, nine persons, including women and children, died as a boat capsized in Mahanadi confluence in Kendrapara district. On June 17, 2018, at least six persons had died as a boat capsized in Chilika lake. At least 13 people died and 20 others were missing after a country boat from Sambalpur town capsized in Hirakud Dam Reservoir (HDR) on February 9, 2014, Tripathy mentioned in his petition.
He further informed that country boats are the only source of communication in several villages under the Chandbali area in Bhadrak district.
Every day thousands of people in the region risk their lives in crossing Mantei and Baitarani rivers in boats due to the absence of bridges. Nearly, 2 lakh people from 36 panchayats and the Chandbali NAC have to depend on country boats to reach Dhamara for work. Nearly 250 country and motor boats sail through 76 anchorages in the district.
In the last eight years, there have been 18 incidents of boat capsize in Bhadrak district alone. The prolong failure of implementation of rules and regulations pose serious human rights issues, Tripathy further alleged.
