New rules likely for boats to ply on rivers

Cuttack: The state government on Thursday informed the Orissa high court that it will soon roll out a new set of rules for operation of boats in rivers, lakes and reservoirs “keeping in view the changing scenario and for the interest of the public”.In an affidavit, director of ports & inland water transport Padmalochan Rout said commerce & transport department has already taken steps to introduce the new inland vessel rules by amendment of the Odisha Boat Rules-2004.Rout said assistance from the National Inland Navigation Institute (NINL), Patna, has already sought to frame the new rules “to ensure safety of passengers/ tourists travelling in boats / launches”. The HC was hearing three PILs. While one was registered suo motu by the HC in 2014 the two others were filed by Rohina Kumar Maity along with others and by lawyer Prabir Kumar Das in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The affidavit was filed in pursuance with the HC’s direction to come up with a comprehensive affidavit on the status of legislation to provide compensation to the victims of accidents during plying of boats and ferries.Advocate Prabir Kumar Das, who appeared in person, pointed out to the court that the affidavit was silent regarding compensation.However, the two-judge bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Gourishankar Satapathy posted the matter to July 27 for further consideration along with the reply of amicus curiae Saktidhar Das.In the affidavit, Rout also stated that the commerce & transport department has developed an user-friendly online software application – Boat Information Management System (BIMS). TNN