Residents pay tribute to the victims of Hirakud boat tragedy in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Feb. 13: The state government today decided to regularly check fitness of boats, competence of boatmen and capacity of vessels plying in rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The meeting was held in the wake of Sunday’s boat tragedy in Hirakud reservoir that claimed 31 lives.

The government also decided to make it mandatory to keep safety jackets in all passenger boats. Licence of the violators will be cancelled. All executive magistrates, police officers in the rank of sub-inspectors and above will be empowered to check the boats’ safety. The Inland Transport Organisation under the state commerce and transport department will be strengthened to enforce the new provisions and rules.

In a related development, Sambalpur sub-collector issued a showcause to Dhankauda block development officer, as Sonutikra ghat, where picnickers of the Lions Club of Sambalpur boarded the ill-fated boat, had not been auctioned for past one year.

Sub-collector Surendra Panda said: “The ghat should be auctioned every year. However, it has not been auctioned for past one year, which is a violation of the gram panchayat rules.”

On the other hand, police have arrested one of the two boatmen, Akshay Rana, on charges of rash navigation. Moreover, a manhunt has also been launched to nab the boat owner, Satyanand Pandey, and another boatman, Anjan Parua.

However, some of the people, who survived in the incident, are of the view that the boatmen are innocent. Sakhipara resident Soumya Ranjan Pradhan, who was on the boat, said: “The boat was overcrowded. The boatmen had requested the passengers not to board the boat at a time. But, no one listened to them.”

The town is yet to recover from the shock. A huge candle march was held last evening to pay tribute to the victims.