Mahakalpara: In the wake of the Chilika boat tragedy, the Kendrapara district administration has inspected the Mahanadi ferry ghat at Bahakud in this block as part of an investigation ordered by the government.
A team of Sub Collector Sanjay Mishra and Mahakalpara tehsildar Neelamadhav Bhoi inspected the ghat and collected the details as to the number of boats engaged and the number of people ferried every day.
About 2000 people, mostly labourers in the Paradeep industrial area, use this ghat to visit the other side of the river on a regular basis.
This ghat lacks facilities. Locals alleged that besides the Bahakud ferry ghat, all other ghats at Jambu, Kansapal, Ekalpur, Teragaon, Karanj, Gobardhanpur, Khiranasi and Chaumuhani are also functioning without having necessary equipments.
They lack in respect of agreement, boat, registration, life jackets, notice board, and insurance. “As the ghats are running without adhering to rules and with the lease-holders not keeping necessary equipment in place, accidents in the river are taking place time and again.
When asked, Tehsildar Bhoi said an investigation was under way. Action would be taken against the errant lease holders after the final report.