The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has issued notice on Tuesday to the six top officials of the State Government over the alleged negligence to check the boat tragedy at Chilka lake.
Four people had died after a country boat carrying picnickers from Sabulia under Rambha police limits capsized due to overloading in Chilika under Ganjam district on December 10.
Acting on the complaint of rights activist and working group member of Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR) Akhand, the commission directed Secretaries of both Tourism and Transport departments, the Revenue Divisional Commissioner(Southern), the Chilka Development Authority, the District Magistrate of Ganjam and the Police Inspector of General(Southern range) over the matter.
The petitioner said the tragedy occurred due to negligence on part of the district administration.
The Government had ordered a crackdown on boats operating without safety clearance after the boat tragedy in Hirakud in February 2014 which had claimed 24 lives. On April 30, 2014, the Department of Commerce and Transport had designated all the Block Development Officers (BDO) as enforcement officers to check illegal plying of boats, their registration and safety measures in the water bodies as per Odisha Boat Rules, 2004 in their respective jurisdictions.
"But since the day, the Government circular is in the cold storage. Even no survey is done by the BDOs under their jurisdiction," alleged Akhand.
The petitioner prayed for action and penalty against the erring officials, including BDOs, responsible for the incident.