Lack of Navigation Route Maps Led To Devipatnam Boat Tragedy

Vijayawada:  According to reports, there are many reason for the recent boat mishap at Devipatnam mandal in East Godavari. One of them were was due to the lack of navigation route maps from the origin of boating at Gandi Pochamma to the popular tourist destination Papikondalu.

After the tragic death of 22 tourists in the Krishna river involving a private tourist boat in November 2017, the TDP government formed a three-member expert committee and took several measures in the various departments including the director of ports, water resources and issuing licenses to boats . No major progress has been made in taking steps to ensure safety post that as well.

The department of ports carried out an inspection of all tourist boats and recommended for maintenance as well. It also issued licenses to them to operate in the river with safety norms.

But the department of water resources failed to prepare navigation route maps.  Unsurprisingly, the department is shifting blame for its failure.

Officials of the departments admitted that if there was a navigation route map on the Godavari river to Papikondalu, the boat could have saved itself from the fatal route.

“As the Godavari river is declared as inland waterway, the Inland Waterways Authority of India is supposed to prepare navigation route maps for tourist boats to ply on the river to designated tourist places, including Papikondalu. Our role is confined to prepare such route maps only in reservoirs and ponds,” a senior official from the department said to the daily.

“It is certainly the responsibility of the department of water resources to prepare navigation route maps on the river. The department is trying to shift the blame to other departments to avoid criticism for being their slack in producing route maps in the last two years,” a senior ports official said to the daily.

The two drivers of the boat Royal Vashishta were new to the territory and unknowingly took it into a turbulent zone.

People of Kachuluru village said to the daily that saw the boat moving towards turbulent spot and witnessed the sinking.

Also Read: AP CM YS Jagan Meets Families Of Devipatnam Boat Tragedy Victims