Director of Ports Koya Praveen has asked all boat owners and operators, including the Tourism Department, to stick to the rules of Inland Vessels (IV), and take up modifications in accordance with them.
He made it clear that all the boats in both Krishna and Godavari rivers should be registered as per IV rules and licences would be issued once the registration process is completed. He said unless the boat is fit in all aspects, particularly safety, no registration would be done by his department.
Addressing a meeting of boat operators, irrigation, revenue and police officials here on Wednesday, Dr. Praveen said the district Collectors, sub-collectors, SPs, DSPs and District Panchayat Officers concerned were asked to take necessary steps to ensure safety of boat passengers both in Godavari and Krishna basins until the Department of Ports constitutes special enforcement teams for regulating, managing and supervising the boats.
He said after the two major mishaps — at Ibrahimpatnam in Krishna river and at Vadapalli on the borders of East and West Godavari — the government appointed a three-member committee to suggest measures to avoid boat capsizes. After the meeting of the committee, they chalked out an action plan for operation of boats, including the licensing system.
“Now, the Department of Ports has taken over licensing, enforcement and supervision from the Irrigation Department and started checking each boat that operates in the two rivers,” Dr. Praveen said.
Temporary licences
He said that there are 200 to 250 passenger boats in the State of which 60 were given temporary licences in the Godavari, and licences of 17 were cancelled as they were not fit to operate. He said the process of issuing fitness certificates and renewal licences would take four months, but they would ensure that there are no more accidents before that.
He said that registrations would not be possible unless docking requirements are met.
Dr. Praveen said the government is coming forward to help boat operators by offering bank loans to repair or remodel their boats, but it is mandatory to do insurance for all passengers, including crew.
