GUWAHATI:
Ferry service between Nimatighat, Jorhat, and Kamalabari, Majuli, was disrupted after three out of seven big vessels run by the Inland Water Transport Department (IWTD) went out of commission due to lack of fuel, on March 27.
The IWTD is running three Catamarans, two Ro-Pax and two ferries in the route.
When contacted, the director of IWTD Saranga Pani Sarma admitted that there was an issue with one Ro-Pax but it was later redressed. “Earlier in the morning, as informed by junior engineer, one of the vessels was running out of fuel. Actually, the depo, from which the department buys oil, have a shortage of stuff till tomorrow. So, we had to collect oil from other sources. But that issue was redressed and by the evening, the Ro-Pax and other government vessels were functioning as usual.”
Reports, however, informed that the depot has stopped supplying fuel to the IWTD vessels due to non-payment of outstanding bills to the tune of Rs 1 crore.
Meanwhile, commuters had to bear the brunt of the situation. Many people were seen crossing the river through single-engine mechanised boats which were banned by the Assam government since the September 8, 2021, ferry incident in Nimatighat.
The Jorhat deputy commissioner, Ashok Kumar Barman, assured that normal services would be restored.