/ 0
The day 30th April of 2012 was the tragic day not only for Dhubri but for the state and nation as a whole, as it was on this day where 41 passengers had lost their lives near Medattary Ghat on the south bank of Dhubri district, when the boat carrying over 300 passengers from Dhubri capsized amid storm accompanied with torrential rain.
The news rocked the state and nation as well as leaders from all political parties made a beeline at the Medattary Ghat and promised to revamp of the river waterways transportation system by modernizing ghat and boats with modern technology. But six years elapsed since the tragic incidents yet no step so far have been taken to improve waterways transportation.
Moreover, a five-member World Bank team inspected the infrastructure at different ghats in Dhubri district on June 20, 2014, which was to provide assistance in modernizing them for the smooth functioning of river transport on the Brahmaputra. Two World Bank consultants — Peter McEwen, a port engineer and Anthony Hughes, a marine surveyor then visited various ghats of Dhubri district and inspected infrastructure of busiest ghats including Newghat, Panchughat (Free India Ghat), Jogomaya Ghat, Silghat and Mela Maidan Ghat in the north bank of river Brahmaputra at Dhubri. Since four years of their visit, no tangible work is visible on the ground despite promises, no modern safety measures have been taken and still boats sail in the river, as usual, flouting all norms and guidelines. The SUCI leader of the district, Kazi Jamir Uddin Ahmed, alleged that the Inland Water Transport (IWT) whose lapses and irregularities had allegedly led to the disaster has taken no steps to plug the loopholes and even today boats sailing between Dhubri and Fakirganj are in a dilapidated condition.
Bijoy Kumar Sharma
To read the further article please get your copy of Eastern Panorama March issue @http://www.magzter.com/IN/Hill-Publications/Eastern-Panorama/News/ or mail to contact @easternpanorama.in
