Kochi: With the preliminary probe pointing towards an alleged sabotage attempt on the country's first solar ferry boat, the Kerala Ports department has directed the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) to file a report on the incident within three days. "The report will have to be filed within three days and further action will be taken based on that. The official of the company which build the boat and also the 'srank' on duty on that day were too asked to be present for collecting evidence," said P.K. Muhammed, chief surveyor, Kerala Ports Department.
The official said that standards prescribed by the Indian Register of Shipping were met during the construction of the boat and it's unlikely that the rudder gets loosened during operation. Rudder is used to change direction and control of the boat. Probe has revealed that unidentified miscreants "removed" rudder installation in the cover of night last Wednesday, putting in danger lives of hundreds of passengers daily commuting in the 2.5 km section. The SWTD already filed a complaint with the Kottayam Superintendent of Police.
It called the incident a "sabotage attempt" aimed at preventing the first such venture turning into a success and the subsequent roll-out of more solar ferries. The incident came at a time when the state had submitted a request to the Centre to allot funds for manufacturing 10 more solar boats. The successful operation of the first solar ferry was a crucial factor for the same. Meanwhile, there were demands to install CCTV cameras at the boat jetty in Vaikom where the boat is anchored. "Though a direction in this regard was given, the same was not complied with though a CCTV was set up inside the boat," Port Department sources said.
