The Government of Assam has decided to stop the plying of inadequate ferries on the Brahmaputra river from today. The Chief Minister of Assam, Hemanta Biswa Sharma announced this from Jorhat.
The mishap took place near the bank when a single engine ferry collided with another ferry, leading to the capsizing of one in the Brahmaputra. Search and rescue missions were underway from yesterday afternoon. The exact number of casualties of the accident is still unknown. The Chief Minister visited Nimati Ghat of Jorhat, the location of yesterday’s ferry accident. He also announced that the long awaited Jorhat – Majuli Bridge will be started by November 2021 and that a passageway will be marked so that ferries do not encounter sandbanks. The foundation stone for this bridge was laid in February 2016 by by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The state government had allowed private parties to operate ferry services between various of Majuli and Nimati Ghat in Jorhat. However safety precautions were not strictly enforced by the administration. Which allowed private ferries to operate without ample safety equipment on board. Also the use of unconventional engines for powering these boats meant lesser power and maneuverability. Another problem is that these boats carry weights way over maximum limits. Three officers of the Inland Water Transportation Department have been put on suspension and a high level enquiry has been started in this regard.
Alongside the ban of these inadequate ferries from further functioning, the Chief Minister also announced the loan of Rs. 10 lakhs with a subsidy of 75% for those who wanted to upgrade their existing boats. They have to be compulsorily equipped with marine engines to continue plying.
A similar accident in 2018 in the capital city of Guwahati had stopped private ferries from operating. Even the the ferries belonging to the IWT Department were equipped with safety measures like life jackets. But the ones plying between Jorhat and Majuli hardly followed any protocols.
