Sambalpur: A flagrant violation of boating rules in Huma, Sailing without a life jacket

Sambalpur: The journey continues at Huma Bimaleshwar Baba Bakramandir, one of the famous Shiv Peeths among the Ashtashamu Peeths. Lakhs of devotees also gather in Huma every day to witness the journey of Jaggar. There is a huge crowd of devotees for feeding the fish and also for boating at the Mahanadi Machkundra Ghat.

However, Huma’s boat is now running in God’s hope. The safety of people is not taken into account during the boat journey, from children to the elderly, they are getting money from them, but their safety is being completely ignored. The whole boat is sailing without life jackets. The most important thing is that since Jagar Yatra is going on, the district administration and the police administration are keeping a complete watch on Huma.

Even the police are having fun, the administration is silent

Devotees take a boat to visit the Kali temple in the river which is another attraction of Huma Temple which is always crowded for the boat ride. The crowd has increased even more now that the vigil is going on. However, traveling by boat without a life jacket is putting people’s lives at risk.

The police have been deputed to look after the security, but even those policemen were surprised to see that they were traveling without life jackets. More than 20 passengers were found sitting in a boat where the police personnel were going. Among those 20 people, only 2 people were wearing life jackets. Small children are also going to that corner.

Strict Guidelines were Enforced last year

Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena had last year directed to strictly enforce the Odisha Boating Act-2004 and to take strict action against violators of the law, requiring passengers to wear life-jackets and life-buoys for boaters on boats, whether for tourism or commuting, in seas, rivers, lakes and reservoirs in the state. (Aquatic life preservers) were made compulsory.

Registration of passenger boats and cargo boats, distribution of “lifebuoys” to boatmen and various safety regulations were enacted. The Chief Secretary directed the Panchayat Raj Department to inform the boatmen regarding the compliance of the rules and to conduct regular monitoring in this regard.

The Department of Commerce and Transport has been directed to ensure boat licenses and safety measures, with boat operators requesting passengers not to travel without life jackets, which remain only in the order. When people’s lives are at stake every minute, the district administration’s brutal crackdown on law violators is shocking. This is not a new sight on boats in Huma. Such a scene has been seen many times before. It is alleged that the district administration has ignored it. It remains to be seen whether action will be taken by the district administration against the law violators in view of the safety of the people who will be there due to the large crowd of people who are going to travel to Huma till next 14th.