Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Cabinet approves boat tragedy report

V.S. Achuthanandan says the panel has suggested stricter norms for licensing of boats.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the report of the Parithu Pillai Commission which looked into the Thattekkadu boat tragedy, which claimed the lives of 15 students and three teachers on February 22 last year.

The Commission had found that the boat driver, owner and teacher who led the excursion team from the Elavoor St. Antony’s Lower Primary School were responsible for the accident, apart from the officials who were lax in enforcement of rules.

It recommended stricter norms for licensing of boats. No structural changes to the boat should be permitted after registration. The boat driver qualification should be specified. There should be arrangements for training of drivers. Now, licensing of the boats is the responsibility of the Executive Engineer (Irrigation).

A system involving marine engineering and inland navigation departments should be set up to check boats’ fitness and issue licences.

The Commission also suggested that the school management provide jobs to the next of kin of the teachers who died in the accident.

The Cabinet decided to accord a reception to Abhinav Bindra who had won gold medal at the Olympics. Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan, who briefed presspersons, said that Bindra would be presented with a gold medal and his coach Sunny Thomas, with Rs.5 lakh. The Cabinet approved a proposal to give ten per cent price preference in government purchases from small industrial units up to 2012. A new police station would be set up at Eravipuram in Kollam.

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