ATR non-committal in initiating action

THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: The Action Taken Report (ATR) on the E Moideen Kunju Commission recommendations on the Thekkady boat tragedy, which was tabled in the Assembly on Friday, is noncommittal in initiating any action against the officials, who were found guilty. In the ATR, the government has made it clear that it has accepted the findings that the faulty design, overload and inexperienced crew had led to the tragedy. The Commission had found that Ms Vignesh Marine Technical Services (Pvt)Ltd, KTDC Managing Director Mohanlal, KTDC Deputy Manager (mechanical) Manoj Mathew, Tourism Director Sivasankar, Tourism Department Planning Officer Unnikrishnan, boat chief inspector M Mathew, supervisor Thevar, driver Victor Samuel and lasker Aneesh were responsible for the tragedy.  But the ATR says that the Commission report has not defined each official’s responsibility and gravity of their lapses. So there is no point in saying all of them are equally guilty. The recommendation to constitute a Maritime Board is under the consideration of the government. Till its formation, the surface water  transport is availing of the services of a technical committee, comprising officials from the Ports Department, CUSAT and Steel Industrials Kerala Limited (SILK).  However, the government has accepted the proposal for certification by the organisations such as CUSAT. Citing that a Crime Branch inquiry was also on, the government has asked the Chief Secretary to submit a report on the steps to be taken on the Commission’s recommendations. The Government has also accepted a proposal for setting up rescue coordination centres at major tourist destinations in the state.