Overloading of boats, negligence on the part of drivers and lack of supervision by the authorities are some of the factors that are leading to boat mishaps in the Godavari.
The recent boat tragedy near Vadapalli that claimed the lives of 19 tribal people is a case in example.
The residents of 11 villages in Devipatnam Mandal and eight villages in West Godavari district have no other means of connectivity than the waterway, says former MLA and TDP senior leader Chinnam Babu Ramesh.
According to officials, there are 800 small, medium and big launches, ferry boats and other boats in Andhra Pradesh of which only 83 have licence. As many as 75 boats are operating in Godavari basin officially and 50 more are running unofficially on long-distance routes. Most of the tourist boats operate between Rajamahendravaram and Papikondalu during the season and also on other days. In tribal areas however, particularly between Posamma Gandi and Polavaram, stage carriers operate — some on daily basis and others twice a week.
The journey is often risky for tribal people who solely depend on boats. As per the records, there have been 10 major accidents in the Godavari till date leading to the death of 80 people.
Khaja Mohiddin, the owner of the boat that capsized near Vadapalli , is also running a shop at Kondamodalu, and he loaded 50 cement bags, 10 rice bags, two motorcycles, groceries, one refrigerator and two gas cylinders besides 44 passengers.
As most of the offices from Devipatnam were shifted to Indukurupeta, which is about 20 km away, tribal people have to depend on boats. “While evacuating areas facing submergence under the Polavaram project, the government shifted offices first, but neglected the rehabilitation aspect by failing to provide housing,” says Anantha Udaya Bhaskar, YSRCP leader of Rampachodavaram.
Money matters
With a view to bringing in more order among boat operators and ensuring regular fitness checks, the State government issued an order in April transferring the power of issuing licences from the Irrigation Department to Kakinada Port authorities. Since then only one licence has been issued by the port authorities.
Ajay, crew member of the ill-fated boat, has an interesting story to relate. He says they have to grease the palms of police and irrigation officials. “It is a known fact that we all carry more than the capacity. Unexpected weather conditions lead to mishaps often despite the experience of the operators,” he explains.
Battula Chinnarao, former president of the boat operators association, Polavaram, admitted that some of the ferries were 40 years old. “We regularly take up repairs, but change the body of the boat only in rare cases,” he said.
The boat that capsized near Vadapalli met with a major accident in 1991-92 near Posamma Gandi. Khaja Mohiddin, who is the new owner, was operating the boat after carrying out minor repairs.
“Lack of supervision and neglect of the safety aspect are some of the reasons. The government’s casual attitude and corruption in supervisory authorities, including the police, are mainly responsible for the boat tragedies,”says YSR Congress MLC Pilli Subash Chandra Bose.
