Expressing concern over the successive boat tragedies in the country, including the latest one in the Hirakud Dam reservoir, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra on Monday demanded that the Central Government institute a National Commission of Inquiry into the causes of the incidents and recommend measures to prevent any recurrence.
Addressing a Press conference here, State BJP in-charge Mitra described the Hirakud tragedy as “unfortunate” and expressed his condolence for those who died. Mitra reiterated BJP State president KV Singh Deo’s demand for a judicial probe into the Hirakud tragedy and urged the State Government to fix responsibility on the erring persons and officials. He also pointed figure at the callousness of the authorities in charge for the incident.
In the national context, citing the series of boat tragedies in the country whether it was in Alleppy in Kerala or between Ross Island and North Bay in the Andaman Nicobar coast, in which large numbers of people lost their lives, Mitra said such kinds of tragedies do not happen elsewhere in the world. He said his proposed national commission should recommend proper safety regulations for boats, compensation, safety certifications, licensing of the boats and boatmen, training aspects and related safety issues so that such tragic incidence do not recur. Before allowing the boats for ferrying, there should be boat worthiness certificates from the competent authorities, he said.
Mitra said he along with BJP national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan would raise the serious tragedy issues, including the Hirakud one, in the current Parliament session and demand proper legislation to avoid any recurrence of such incidents. He also urged the State Government to increase the rate of compensation to the families of the Hirakud tragedy deceased. On Narendra Modi’s rally in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Mitra asserted that the Vijay Sankalp Samabesh would be a historic rally for Odisha and it would be a grand success with the participation of lakhs of people.