Guwahati: The Assam Congress has blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the boat tragedy that took place in Jorhat over the Brahmaputra river which resulted in the death of at least three persons.
Leader of Opposition at the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia said that the BJP government must take the blame for the Nimatighat-Majuli boat accident. He said that blame must be taken by the BJP as it had promised to improve the water transport system in the state but over the years it did nothing.
Saikia further said that the state government had received funds amounting to Rs 1,000 crore from the World Bank over the past five years to upgrade the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department but there has been “no change” in the system.
Saikia further added that in 2018, Union minister Nitin Gadkari had visited Majuli and promised to improve the water transport facilities. He had promised the construction of twelve jetties, and some night operation of boats which were supposed to run in a scientific manner but these announcements remain blank.
Saikia claimed that the operations of the Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax vessels sourced from Holland is not suitable on the Brahmaputra.