Nothing done to prevent repeat of mishaps

Amaravati: The boat mishap in River Godavari that claimed many lives clearly shows the utter negligence of the state government. Even as six months have passed after a boat capsize incident took place in River Krishna that resulted in death of 20 people, the state government has not taken any measures to prevent such mishaps so far.

Both the water resource department and department of ports are refusing to take responsibility for the boat capsize incident near Manturu in East Godavari district.

Senior officials of irrigation department said the government entrusted the responsibility of overseeing the boating operations to the ports department, but the director of ports said they have not been entrusted the responsibility of boating operations in Dawaleswaram so far. 

Interestingly, the state government has not implemented the recommendations of experts committee on waterways issues and safety measures so far. With this, hundreds of boats ply in River Godavari without any authorisation from government authorities.

Even as a tourist boat that was carrying 80 tourists caught fire between Veeravasaram and Pudipalli village five days ago, the government authorities did not wake up and take any steps to prevent the boat mishaps. The series of boat mishaps in the state may also affect the efforts of state government to promote tourism in AP.

In fact, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made a statement in Assembly on November 13, 2017, following the boat capsize incident in River Krishna, that the government would constitute an experts committee headed by senior IAS and IPS officers to study waterways issues and security measures. He also floated idea of setting up an authority to monitor the water rides in the state.

But, the government has not taken any measures so far except entrusting the responsibility of some tourism boats to directorate of ports. When contacted, a member of experts committee, who is now in Kerala to study the waterway issues, said they had already made some recommendations to the government on issue of licences and design aspects and terminals to boats. “But the government has not approved 
our recommendations so far,” he said.

Principal secretary to water resources department Shashibhushan Kumar said that the boat mishap in Godavari was a natural disaster and nobody can prevent it. He said that as the expert committee did not complete its task within three months, it has been given another three months to submit its recommendations.

Engineer-in-chief M Venkateswara Rao told The Hans India that the boat accident was a calamity for which no one could be held responsible. “The water resources department used to issue licences to boats in the past. Now the government has entrusted the job to ports department. But the ports department said they will take up the responsibility from June first week. Our department is just a member in the committee which will examine the license related issues,” he said.

On other hand, the director of ports refused to accept responsibility for the mishap in Godavari. When contacted, director of ports Koya Praveen said they were entrusted with the responsibility of 88 boats in Vijayawada.

“We have issued licences to 60 boats so far in Vijayawada and three tourist boats in Rajamahendravaram. Though there are around 100 boats in Dowleswaram, we have not been entrusted with their responsibility,” he said. Praveen also said the government is yet to accept the recommendations of the experts committee.

The officials agreed that the boats in Dowleswaram are operating without any fresh registration. The boat, which capsized in Godavari on Tuesday evening, reportedly met with accident in the past. Officials said the boat operators in Dowleswaram were refusing to renew their licences.

As per River Conservation Act, applying for renewal of licences of boats every year is mandatory. The authorities must give route permission, driving licence to boat driver and registration number to boats after checking fitness of boats. 

Though, the authorities sent several reports to the government on illegal operations of private boats in River Krishna the past, the government did not respond. “Lack of regular checkups was the major reason for the boat accidents,” an official said.

By K Varaprasada Rao