Kendrapara: Despite frequent boat mishaps, the Kendrapara district administration is yet to learn a lesson or two to make boat travel safer even as a boat capsize here Thursday in Brahmani river claimed life of a minor boy with one of the boatmen still missing. It was a sad day for the local residents as the boat en route to Keradagad of Rajnagar from Ekamania with 30 passengers and eight to 10 two-wheelers on board capsized in Brahmani. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the next of kin of the deceased and expressed his deepest condolences over the tragedy. Travelling by boats in the rivers of Kendrapara district is always fraught with risk owing to unsafe practices as fishing boats are being used to ferry passengers without any life jackets.
However, the district administration is yet to wake up to this reality and adopt measures to make boat journeys safer for people. There are hundreds of river ghats in this district from where boats ply perilously for their destinations carrying hundreds of passengers on board. These boats do not adhere to safety norms or boat rules. Furthermore, no life jacket is given to the passengers, taking away from them the last chance of survival in case of a mishap. The government has framed boat rules for safe travel in water bodies but people involved in this trade mostly use fishing boats to ferry passengers which often prove to be life-threatening for them.
Social activist Pratap Kumar Padhi said over 17 panchayats like Padanipala, Ekamania, Singhagaon, and Batighar are riparian areas surrounded by rivers where boats are the only mode of transportation. Outsiders and locals visiting tourist sites like Hukitola, Havelikhati, Batighara, Barunei mostly use country boats, dinghies, and fishing boats. The state government’s Odisha Boat Rules, 2004 are yet to be implemented here despite boats being the main mode of transportation in these areas.
As a result, travelling by boat has become a risky proposition in this district. People travel for their destinations without having any knowledge about the boat rules. There is a thin chance of getting compensation to the next of the kin of deceased if such a boat overturns claiming lives. He alleged that over 60 boats are being used sans any proper fitness certificate. Narendra Kumar Das of Gupti in Rajnagar block said that the Bhitarkanika National Park is infested by over 1,700 crocodiles and boats regularly ply in these water bodies to Gupti, Chandbali, Khola, Jaynagar, Kharinasi, Bahakud, Jambu villages adjoining the wetland. Many of these boats do not have an experienced and senior boatman and minors have been engaged to row the boats.
Moreover, boats are always overloaded with passengers in lure of money as there is no restriction from the government. Construction of a bridge between Bahakuda and Kharinasi is yet to be completed leaving boat as the only option of transport especially during the rainy season. When contacted, ADM Pitambar Samal said awareness programmes on safe travel are being regularly conducted among the boatmen. The district administration never hesitates to take action if any boat is found flouting rules.