Kerala - Alappuzha   

Free ferry service lands contractor in trouble

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, JAN. 12. The free ferry service of Indian Army across the Kayamkulam lake connecting the tsunami-ravaged Tharayilkkadavu in Arattupuzha panchayat with Kochiyude Jetty in the mainland has brought cheer to the residents of Tharayilkkadavu.

But it has shattered the dreams of Jayakumar, a retired army personnel who took the contract from Arattupuzha panchayat for running a private ferry service there. Mr. Jayakumar, who took the contract for a sum of Rs. 12.40 lakhs, said that he had invested his whole fortune in the venture.

``In addition to that, I had taken bank loans for the venture,'' he said. While Mr. Jayakumar had paid a part of the Rs. 12.40-lakh to the panchayat, he is paying the remaining amount to the panchayat as instalments at the rate of Rs. 1,800 every day.

Collection dropped

Mr. Jayakumar said that he used to earn Rs. 8,000 daily but his daily collection had dwindled to less than Rs. 2,000 at present. He said that the amount was not enough to buy diesel for the ferry and to pay salary to the ferry workers. While around 80 litres of diesel was needed for the ferry every day, Rs. 1,350 had to be given as wages to the six workers and Rs. 1,000 as rent per day to the ferry owner.

Mr. Jayakumar said that he ran the ferry service free-of-cost from December 26 to January 7, when the Chief Minister inaugurated the free ferry service. He said that while the authorities provided diesel free-of-cost on those days, he had to bear the expenses of paying the salary and rent of the boat himself.

Mr. Jayakumar said that at present a large number of government officials and workers of various organisations who arrive at Arattupuzha use the ferry service and it was difficult to charge them. Moreover, after the tsunami, it was difficult to extract ticket charges from villagers. With the Government promising the construction of a bridge, Mr. Jayakumar fears that the ferry service would no longer be of use.

Mr. Jayakumar said that while he welcomed the free ferry service and construction of a bridge, he hoped that the Government would provide him sufficient compensation for the losses he had incurred.

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Free ferry service lands contractor in trouble

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