Mamallapuram:
Union Shipping minister G K Vasan on Tuesday expressed
concern over reported deficiencies that resulted in the boat tragedy in Andaman
and Nicobar Island and said necessary steps should be taken to prevent such
incidents.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Lighthouse
Heritage Museum here, the minister said that there were deficiencies reported
by the survivors of the tragedy.
Although a magisterial probe is being ordered but the
survivors told me during my visit to Kancheepuram that the boat was overloaded
and not everybody had lifejackets.
Besides whether the officials followed the guidelines or
not would be known only after the probe, Vasan, who had earlier visited the
families of those who died and the survivors in the boat tragedy, said.
“I urge the Union home minister and Lt governor of the
Andaman and Nicobar Island A K Singh to take serious steps so that such sort of
incidents are not repeated.
Earlier addressing a gathering after inaugurating the
museum, Vasan said that lighthouse tourism would also be started in Rameshwaram
and Kanyakumari soon.
Interestingly, the minister also has reduced the fee for visiting the lighthouse for students after a request was
made by local MP P Viswanathan.
He also said a laser show will also be launched in the
vicinity soon. He also highlighted that a pilot project to identify suitable
transponders for fishing vessels is in progress. “This is intended to caution
other vessels plying close to the coastline against possible collisions,” the
minister said.
The minister also sought an early solution to the
fishermen issue between Indian and Sri Lanka and said in the next 15 days talks
between fishermen and officials between both the countries will be held in
Colombo.
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