Government to constitute committee to give recommendations in Rajamahendravaram

Rajamahendravaram: Deputy Chief Minister Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose said on Monday that the government decided to constitute a high-level committee to recommend measures to avert boat accidents in the River Godavari.

Addressing a press conference at Sub-Collector's office here, Bose said Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with the officials on the accident. The Chief Minister announced the constitution of high-level committee which will submit its report within three weeks, the Bose said. The committee will be headed by Special Chief Secretary of Water Resources Department and consisting of Special Secretary (Revenue), Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Principal Secretary (Tourism), Port Director as members and Respective District Collectors as convenors. The government will implement the recommendations of the Committee.

Minister for Agriculture Kurasala Kanna Babu said TDP government had issued a GO number 667 on November 16 2017 fixing responsibility on Department of Ports to give fitness certificates to the boats and motor launches but not fixed the responsibility to accord permissions for operations of boats and launches.

He said though the Go was issued, the previous government did not enforce it, he said. The Chief Minister also directed the officials to open control rooms with the officials of Water Resources Department, Fire Services, police and Port Departments immediately. Minister for Tourism Avanthi Srinivas said a case would be registered against the tourist boat owner K V Ramana.

The driver of the tourist boat was not the experienced one. Minister for Social Welfare Department Pinepe Viswaroop said the government had stopped the operations of boats in the river.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to examine the boats frequently, he said.