THEKKADY: In a startling development it has come to light that the KTDC authorities here received the fitness certificate of the ill-fated Jalakanyaka only on October 2, days after the boat tragically capsized on September 30.
Documents pertaining to the boat show that the fitness certificate was prepared by the Chief Inspector of Boats on June 6 this year, but was received by KTDC authorities at Thekkady only after the tragedy, giving credence to the widespread allegations of callousness on the part of authorities being the main factor that led to the mishap, The vessel was put into operation on the lake on August 17. Though there is a provision for mandatory display of the fitness certificate on the boat, this was not followed.
It is now in the open that the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) issued a certificate only for the hull of the boat. The boat itself was assembled by Vignesh Marine Engineering Company, Chennai. Chief Inspector of Boats M Mathews, now under arrest, issued the controversial fitness certificate dated June 6 on the basis of the IRS certificate alone, without looking into other aspects. However, speed and manoeuvrability tests were conducted in the presence of an IRS surveyor, Crime Branch officials said.
While the IRS certification for the hull clearly states that 50 can be seated on the lower deck and half that number on the upper deck, Jalakanyaka had 48 seats below and 27 above. In addition to this anomaly, a 2.9-degree slant to the right was detected by experts. And 12 unauthorised persons were seated on temporary chairs on the upper deck at the time of the mishap.
The certificate issued by the Inspector.