THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded a detailed inquiry into the condition of passenger boats.
In his Facebook post, the CPM leader said most transport boats in the state were in a pretty bad condition. These were being given permission to operate only on the repainting.
He said the boat mishap that happened in Kochi has brought into sharp focus major problems related to water transportation in the state and thrown many questions at the authorities and corporation.
The boat involved in the mishap was 30 years old and it was operating at a time when the norm laid down for such services mandate that those which are more than 15 years old should not be permitted, he added.
The CPM leader said the rules called for annual total maintenance and overhaul at the dry dock of repairing yard. But no repair work or maintenance worth the name was taking place at these yards and most boats were being shown green flag after repainting, he said. Vijayan said there was lapse on the part of everyone.
“A comprehensive probe needs to be conducted into the condition of fishing boat that crashed into the passenger boat at a high speed killing eight people and injuring many,” he said.
The CPM leader expressed condolences to the bereaved families and demanded adequate compensation.
