KOCHI: Eleven people lost their lives when a passenger boat heading towards Fort Kochi from Vypeen island collided with a fishing boat on August 26, days before Onam. But, what made the matters even worse was the slugfest in the Corporation between the ruling UDF and Left parties. CPM-led opposition pressed for a judicial probe and held a 12-day hunger strike demanding the same. The ruling front led by Mayor Tony Chammany maintained that they are also in favour of a judicial probe and that it was up to the state government to decide the matter. Our reporters Anilkumar T and Chandrakanth Viswanath dive into murky waters to present key issues
What the State Government Says
A meeting chaired by Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan approved in principle to a judicial probe into the boat tragedy in which 11 passengers lost their lives. According to him the government faces some technical difficulty in announcing the judicial probe since a case related to the incident is pending in the court. The government is also a party in the case. The government has also appointed Water Transport Department director Shaji V Nair to conduct a fitness auditing of the boats.
“Government’s hands are bound and it can’t announce a judicial probe into the boat tragedy since the case is subjudice. The government has been made a party in the case. The government will not oppose the judicial probe and it will move an application for the same in the affidavit filed before the court,” Thiruvanchoor said
Package for victims announced
The kin of Fort Kochi boat tragedy victims will get `7 lakh as compensation. In this `5 lakh will be given by the state government and the remaining `2 lakh will be provided by Kochi Corporation.
Further assistance to the victims such as house, clearing of loan and other financial assistance will be initiated based on the enquiry report. The government also directed Ernakulam and Thrissur District Collectors to submit a report regarding this.
What Inland Vessels Act 1917 says
As per Section 33 of the Act, the government has to appoint a special court and direct the court to initiate investigation. The special court should consist of not less than two and not more than four persons. In this one member should be a magistrate, one conversant with maritime affairs or with the navigation system of mechanically propelled vessels, and others should be conversant with maritime. The Act also accords powers to the court to inquire into any charge of incompetency or misconduct against any master, engineer, engine driver or any person holding a certificate as well as into any charge of a wrongful act or default on his part causing any wreck, abandonment, damage, casualty or loss.
Political Slugfest
‘LDF’s Stand Got Victims Compensation’
We pitched for three demands during the agitation. Judicial probe into the accident, a reasonable relief package for the kin of victims and conducting inspection into the safety of other boat services in Kochi. These three points are valid and logical. With the assistance of legal reports the victims can approach the government for any help in the future. The government should function based on the laws of the land. It has tried to cover up some things pertaining to the accident. Even the ADGP, who is conducting the probe, can’t be appointed by the government as per the Inland Vessels Act 1917. This is for the first time in the history of Kerala that a compensation package for boat tragedy victims was announced and this happened because of LDF’s tough stand.
— P Rajeev, CPM district secretary, former MP
‘A Political Game Played by LDF’
We have already said that we are not against judicial probe and our decision to submit the resolution before the state government reaffirms this. There are some technical difficulties that the government faces with regard to initiating judicial probe since a PIL is pending before the court. The LDF hunger strike and agitation was a part of a political game that they played foreseeing the upcoming local body election. The protest may not have gone so long if they had relented for an intermediary talk.
— Tony Chammany, Kochi Mayor