A Correspondent
JORHAT: Jorhat district administration has ordered for a strict vigil on ferry movement and verification for all motorboats, passenger or goods ferries plying between Neematighat to Majuli and Majuli to Neematighat. This instruction was given following the boat mishap in Guwahati on Wednesday which should not be repeated, said Narayan Konwar, Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat here on Thursday.
Neematighat is one of the busiest river ports in Asia where 66 ferry services with 54 motor-boats and 22 motorized country boats ply every day between Majuli river island district and Neematighat. Proper verification is needed for all the vehicles as many are not following the norms laid by the Inland Water Transport (IWT), said official sources.
Moreover, after the declaration of Majuli as a district, ferry services have increased. During festivals like Raax Leela and Paal Naam in the month of October and November, people throng the river island and the number of ferries carrying passengers, along with bikes and cars, increases. This needs to be checked from now onwards, said Naren Kalita, the president of Neematighat AJYCP unit.
He further blamed the lesse. As IWT officials and employees rarely attended duty, junior grade employees while away the time by playing cards on the bank of the river and the lesse leaves everything in the hands of the staff.