Odisha enforces strict boat safety rules, mandating life jackets, inspections, and penalties to prevent accidents in inland waterways
OdishaPlus Bureau
The government of Odisha has resolved to enhance safety regulations for boats operating in inland waters in response to a series of recent capsize incidents nationwide.
A high-level review meeting, presided over by NBS Rajput, the Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department, was convened to evaluate safety measures. Officials have mandated that all passengers must wear life jackets when boarding boats.
Additionally, authorities have instructed that every operational boat must be equipped with life jackets corresponding to its passenger capacity, as well as lifebuoys and fire safety equipment in accordance with safety standards.
To ensure adherence to these regulations, departments have been directed to perform regular surprise inspections, with stringent penalties for operators found to be overloading vessels or breaching safety protocols.
The government has also highlighted the importance of inter-departmental coordination, involving agencies such as Fisheries, Tourism, Forest, and Environment, to guarantee thorough enforcement of safety regulations.
To assist boat operators, the state offers safety equipment through the Sahid Baji Rout Noujatra Suraksha Yojana. Life jackets, lifebuoys, and fire extinguishers are provided free of charge to government boats and at a 95% subsidy to private operators. This initiative aims to improve passenger safety and avert accidents in Odisha’s inland waterways.
The government can’t ensure strict boat safety rules to prevent accidents. There must be support staff at the ground level to implement and oversee these safety rules. Over capacity, untrained boat operators , and poor quality of life jackets are the reasons that cause accident in inland waterways. Strict checks at the the tourist places during the tourist season and fastive occasions by the State Disaster Management Authority will surely prevent accidents in the inland waterways and save lives.