By Bijoy Handique

Jorhat: Jorhat district administration ordered for strict vigil for ferry movement and verification for all motor-boats, bhoot-bhooty, passenger or goods ferries along with fitness certificate were asked to be produced by all ferry owners of the ferries that plying between Neematighat to Majuli and Majuli to Neematighat which was instructed to the executive engineer, Inland Water Transport (IWT), Jorhat division following Guwahati boat mishap on Wednesday which should not be repeated,  said Narayan Konwar, Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat here today.

Neematighat which is one of the busiest river port in Asia where 66 ferry services with 54 motor-boats, 22 bhoot-bhooty ply everyday between Majuli river island district to Neematighat that connects with the rest of the country which needs proper verification for all the water vehicles which many still not following norms framed by the Inland Water Transport (IWT) as reported by several organization from the area, said official sources.

Moreover after the declaration of Majuli as a district, the plying of ferry services turned very frequent for both passengers and goods carrying and it becomes more busy of the busiest and crowded during Majuli’s most popular festival period during the hour of Raas Leela and Paal Naam in the month of October and November and during that hour people from all throughout the globe throng to the island when these ferries carrying passengers along with bikes and four-wheelers  is maximum which needed to be checked from onwards, said Naren Kalita, the president of Neematighat AJYCP unit.

The Parishad president further blamed the lessy (one who takes on lease for parking ferry at the river port a particular period from the IWT), when IWT officials and employees on duty rarely attended duty for the day when junior grade employees make hay while the sun shines by playing cards on the bank of the river when the lessy is the master leaving everything in the hands of the staff viz the Gurial (sailor cum navigator) with one assistant, one engine operator who controls two engine that carries over 100s of passengers with luxury cars to and from Neematighat to Majuli’s Kamalabari, Dhokinpaaat, Afalamukh, Phuloni, Halmora and Somoimri.