Three marine engines for ferry allotted to Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: After the tragic ferry mishap that took place in the mighty Brahmaputra at Nimatighat on September 8, the State Government has decided to provide marine engines to the passenger vessels that ply under the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department. As part of such initiative, the State government has allotted three marine engines to Lakhimpur district. One of them will be installed in the ferry that runs at Lohit Khaboloo, while the rest two marine engines will be installed in the ferries that run across Subansiri river at Ghagar Ghat and Dhunaguri Ghat.

On Monday, Deputy Commissioner of Lakhimpur Sumit Sattawan received the marine engines arriving at Lohit Khaboloo. It is notable here that marine engines on ships or ferries are responsible for propulsion of the vessel. They are heat engines used for converting heat, which is generated by burning fuel, developing thermal energy and transforming it into mechanical energy. The engines used onboard ships are internal combustion engines, in which, the combustion of fuel takes place inside the engine cylinder and the heat is generated post the combustion process.

Addressing the public assembled at Lohit Khaboloo on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner said that the installation of the marine engines would upgrade the ferry services and reduce the fear of accidents. In this regard, he appealed to the public and ferry service providers to extend their united cooperation.

Prior to it, an emergency meeting of the Lakhimpur district administration with the ferry service providers and ferry owners, who provide ferry services at nine Par Ghats of the district, was held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner's office. The meeting was held with Deputy Commissioner Sumit Sattawan in the chair. Notably, in the aftermath of the boat capsize incident at Nimatighat in the Brahmaputra, the plying of private vessels with single engine, except those with marine engines with reversible gear has been suspended in Lakhimpur district too. During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner called upon the ferry owners to upgrade their vessels to double engines from single engine. In this connection, the Deputy Commissioner stated, "The State Government will bear the cost to replace all single engine vessels with marine engines. In this regard, the government will provide a fund of Rs. 10,00,000 to the intending ferry owners with 75 per cent subsidy."

He further called upon the ferry service providers to ensure the safety announcements by the master of the ferry through a loud hailer on the do's and don'ts, emergency procedures, procedure for wearing a life jacket, handling of lifebuoy etc as per new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) laid down by IWT Department for plying of vessels. He asserted that there should be one life-buoy ring against four passengers and it should have a rope attached having at least 30 feet length. These are to be kept on the guard rails for immediate throwing towards people in the water.

In order to monitor and review the things, Lakhimpur district administration has appointed Assistant Commissioner Jintu Sarnah as Nodal Officer. District Development Commissioner Manoj Kumar Baruah, Additional Deputy Commissioner Manorama Morang, Additional Superintendent of Police— Nityananda Hazarika were among those who were present in the meeting.

Also Read: Nimati Ghat Ferry Mishap: Owner of Boat Pani Ram Kalita Arrested by Dibrugarh Police

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