Bhubaneswar, Dec. 11: The Chilka Development Authority (CDA) today conducted an inquiry into the boat accident that killed four persons, including two children, in the Chilika lake near Rambha in Ganjam district on Saturday morning.
CDA officials said that the boat was meant for fishing and was not supposed to ferry passengers.
Chief executive of CDA P.K. Mohan said the boat was not even fit for fishing.
"The boat was very old and was not supposed to ferry passengers. Very few people could have travelled, if at all, but it was overloaded with more than 30 passengers," said Mohan.
He added that the CDA has been conducting sensitisation programmes for the boatmen to ensure safety of tourists in Chilika. "We have been conducting frequent awareness programmes in the villages around the lake asking boatmen to keep adequate stock of life jackets," said Mohan.
Sources said around 7,000 boats had been granted licence for fishing by the fisheries and animal resources department of state government while around 5,000 are currently in operation. Besides another 1,000 boats are operating in the lake to ferry tourist with licence from the Inland Water Transport (IWT) under the transport department.
CDA officials said a number of boats meant for fishing activities had been ferrying passengers at a low coast. "Tourists often take these fishing boats as they charge less. Tourists also do not ask about life jackets in the boat," said an official.
As many as 31 passengers including two boatmen were in the ill-fated vessel that capsized. The passengers were on their way to Ghantasila hills from Sabulia for a picnic when the tragedy struck.
Police today seized the boat.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prasad Harichandan today met the survivors of the accident at MKCG Medical College in Berhampur.
"Similar incidents have taken place in the state in the recent past but the state government has not taken any steps to prevent them. The government should come up with measures to ensure that such incidents don't take place," said Harichandan.
