Mishap waits to happen as steamer service is off

BEGUSARAI: Uncertainty prevails over the resumption of steamer service in the Ganga at Munger ghat which has been lying suspended for the last two months.
Begusarai and Munger district administrations are now locked in a legal battle over the administrative power to auction the Munger ghat. The case is reportedly in the court of the Munger commissioner, who happens to be the commissioner of both the districts, for a final decision.
Meanwhile, motor-fitted country boats, which have been banned by the high court, are doing brisk business, ferrying passengers across the river at a fare of Rs 10, double of what was charged by the steamer.Locals fear that if the steamer service is not resumed before the onset of rainy season, when Ganga overflows with water, the possibility of country boats capsizing in the river could not be ruled out.
But the officials of the two districts, instead of banning the plying of motorised country boats, avail their services for crossing the river. "Any alternative route is more costly and time-taking", said an official who often has to go to Munger in connection with official work.
According to reports, a tiff over the payment of steamer fare by influential local people lead to the closure of the steamer service followed by legal battle between the two districts.
Sources state that the staff of Kampany Paswan, contractor of the ghat, charged fare from the RJD activists and followers of the urban development minister and native of this district, Shree Narayan Yadav.
This resulted in violent protest with firing in the air to prevent the steamer from berthing on the bank of the Ganga near Sahibpur Kamal on March 24 this year. According to reports, the local people belonging to Kharhat, Shaligrami and other villages under the Sahibpur Kamal police station of the district, violently protested the plying of the steamer.
As ghat operator Kampany Paswan failed to get cooperation from either of the district administrations, he was forced to stop steamer service at the ghat.
It is stated that the urban development minister, favouring his supporters and villagers, got the Begusarai administration to file a case in the court of Munger commissioner, challenging the authority of the Munger district administration to handle Munger ghat on the ground that the land on both sides of the river falls in Begusarai district. According to latest reports, the "amins" of both the districts jointly measured the disputed area recently and their report is awaited.
Prior to the creation of Begusarai district in 1972, it was part of Munger district which used to settle the ghat. Even after Begusarai district came into being, the parent district retained control over the ghat. But the recent confrontation betwen the steamer owner''s men and the ruling party activists has complicated the matter with both the districts joining the issue.