GUWAHATI: Poor scrutiny by the government is directly responsible for the bhutbhuti (local nomenclature for the privately owned motorized boats that ferry passengers between Guwahati and North Guwahati) accident which led to the death of three persons (according to government reports) with one is still missing.
Director of Inland Water Transport (IWT), BB Dev Choudhury, talking to G Plus said, “The officials responsible for inspecting the boats plying between Guwahati and North Guwahati did not do their work sincerely.”
According to a preliminary investigation report conducted by the IWT after the accident, it was found that the appointed driver and helmsman of the boat, Lakhan Das and Arup Das, were not on the boat during the mishap; some other persons were operating the boat.
Choudhury further said, “According to the initial inquiry reports we received, the engine of the boat stopped suddenly when it reached near the ghat (bank) of Ashwaklanta Temple. In this situation the helmsman usually casts the anchor and anchors the boat.” Choudhury revealed that it is yet to be ascertained whether the boat had any anchor or not.
Similarly, the officials placed at the IWT ghats had the responsibility to check the boat’s motor and engine on an everyday basis, which did not happen.
Also, the country boat which capsized had the capacity of carrying only 15 persons, but the initial investigation report said that there were 24 passengers, 3 IWT staff, 2 crew members, 7 motor bikes and 2 bicycles, of which 20 persons were safe, 3 dead bodies recovered and 1 yet to be traced. The IWT staff and crew members are also safe.
Transport Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary, has announced the suspension of four officials of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department, namely – Vikramaditya Choudhury, Executive Engineer; Purnananda Das, Guwahati Ferry Ghat in-charge; and two Section Officers – Dharmeswar Baishya and Jagadish Das.
ITW also failed to implement mandating wearing of life jackets. According to the regulations of the IWT, passengers are mandated to wear life jackets while travelling on the boats, but a source revealed that the rule has never been enforced by the IWT.
3,000 passengers to be affected after boat mishap
After the bhutbhuti mishap, the state government has decided to bar the country boats from plying between Guwahati and North Guwahati. The move will directly affect 3,000 passengers who use the service everyday.
A source in the Inland Water Transport department (IWT) said, “All the bhutbhutis are barred from plying in Brahmaputra between Guwahati and North Guwahati.”
There are 100 bhutbhutis operated by private owners and 6 vessels operated by IWT plying between Guwahati and North Guwahati. 3,000 passengers use these boats daily. After the accident, the bhutbhutis are now barred from plying as none of the boats and vessels can be considered safe to ply on Brahmaputra.
The transport department claimed that they have introduced 10 Assam State Transport Corporation buses, but the residents of North Guwahati are not content with the initiative.
A resident of North Guwahati who comes to Fancy Bazar everyday said, “We are facing a lot of problems. The buses do not ply on time and if the boats are not there we will waste a lot of time. The government should introduce new safe boats.”
No new vessel from govt in last 15 years
It is shocking to know that the state government in Assam did not introduce any new vessel in Guwahati over the last 15 years.
A source in Inland Water Transport (IWT) department said, “3 vessels were procured by the government in 2003 and after that no other vessel has been introduced till date.”
The source revealed that all the vessels plying in Guwahati including the bhutbhutis are in deplorable condition. The bhutbhutis are allowed to ply because the 6 IWT vessels cannot meet the demand of the passengers.
Also the IWT officials fail to inspect the vessels regularly.
Govt’s Ola river taxi dream shattered
The government might have claimed that Ola river taxis will be plying in Guwahati in various routes but the dream has shattered as the app-based river taxi service will not be introduced in Guwahati.
A source in Inland Water Transport IWT) department said, “The company is not launching the river taxis in Guwahati.”
A source also revealed that Ola was “pressurising” the state government for sailing permission to operate the river taxis on Brahmaputra “without” Indian Register for Shipping (IRS) certification.
IRS is the recognised agency which provides safety certificates to vessels after thorough investigation. To ply on the Brahmaputra River a special certificate has to be availed mentioning that the vessels can “ply during monsoon and floods” on Brahmaputra.
“The company has not responded after it was asked to provide the IRS certificate,” revealed the source and it seems the company will not respond any further.
Also, after the recent boat mishap the safety criterion is expected to increase drastically and if the IRS certificate is taking so long, the launch of the taxis is questionable, the source said.
Govt to formulate New IWT Bill
Facing the heat from all corners after the bhutbhuti carrying around 30 persons capsized in Brahmaputra River, the state government has decided to do some rework on the Inland Water Transport regulations.
A source in Dispur said, “Assam Inland Water Transport Reorganisation Bill will be placed in the next session of the Legislative Assembly.”
The source revealed that the bill is mainly getting formulated to make all the rules and regulations of IWT stringent.
The bill will mandate wearing of life jackets when on boat, the source revealed. Also there will be rules and regulations for private parties without following which they cannot ply boats on the river.
The source revealed only after the bill is passed it will be decided whether the bhutbhuti will be able to ply on the river or not.
Insurance of capsized boat expired
It is more shocking to further know that the insurance of the capsized boat - SB Brahmaputra (RC No 1149) – had expired when the boat met with the accident.
According to the initial investigation conducted by the Inland Water Transport (IWT) department, it was found that the capsized boat had the insurance valid till 22nd December 2017 and it was not renewed after that.
A source in IWT said, “All the boats plying on the river need to have insurance for the hull of the boat and the number of passengers which it is permitted to ferry.”
The capsized boat had a capacity of 15 people and the insurance for these 15 people was valid only till 22nd December 2017. The insurance for the hull was also valid till the same date.
The people deceased because of the accident will not get any insurance money.