Capsized vessel's licence suspended
Minister of state for ports Ravindra Chavan told the Legislative Council on Thursday that the police is investigating the incident.
Mumbai: The state government said that the licence of the boat used to the ferry officials and media personnel to the site of the inauguration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial in the Arabian Sea, which capsized in October, has been suspended.
Minister of state for ports Ravindra Chavan told the Legislative Council on Thursday that the police is investigating the incident.
A three-member committee had been formed under the chairmanship of the shipping advisor, which has completed the probe. The report of the probe will be submitted to the government within the next ten to fifteen days. “After the submission of the report, action will be taken against the person responsible. Nobody will be spared,” said Mr Chavan.
Mr Chavan was replying a short notice on this issue, raised by Shiv Sena MLCs Anil Parab, Neelam Gorhe and Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) MLC Balaram Patil on Thursday.
In October, a youth, Siddhesh Pawar, died after the boat, which was carrying 25 people, capsized in the sea off the city coast. The incident had revived the demand for shifting the location of the project to within the city. However, the government had later clarified that there is no reason for changing the location.
“There is no reason for changing the location. The memorial will be constructed at the same location. We have begun work and it will be completed within the deadline,” chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had told the media some time after the incident. About the accident, he said,
Taking part into the discussion, Mr Parab and Mr Patil demanded that a case of culpable homicide should be filed against the owner of the boat who had provided the vessel on the rent and the person who had rented it. Mr Parab said carelessness had occurred and accountability should be fixed.
PWP leader Jayant Patil said that while departing from the port, the boat ignored the rules. He also asked what was the coastal police doing?
Mr Patil also suggested that boats should set out one at a time from the port and life jackets should be made compulsory.