Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Mar 20: In 2008 the Director General of Shipping had delegated the powers for inspection of equipments relating to safety equipments to Indian Register of Shipping (IRC). Earlier the powers were with MMD.
After 26 January 2014’s boat incident the Lt. Governor had ordered safety audit of all boats in Andaman following which all boat owners and departments, which operate vessels and boat purchased life jackets, sadly many of them have purchased life jackets either from unauthorized life jacket makers or the life jackets, which are approved by MMD.
The life jacket approved by MMD earlier, were actually banned as those life jackets have major defects of absorbing water, if kept in water for long time. Not only this the design of the life jacket is such that if the person at sea is tired and unable to keep his neck strait, the jacket may kill him.
Considering this, the IRS has introduced new designs of life jackets, which not only keeps people floating safely for a long long time but also does not absorb water.
Call it total ignorance or a trick to benefit some businessmen, some of the departments are still advertising for MMD approved life jackets in local newpapers.
For example recently CARI, Forest Department and Diglipur Panchayat Samity have recently published tender notice for purchase of MMD approved life jackets.
Ignorance of rules by government departments, is not an excuse. Departments, which are operating vessels and small boats must be aware of law of this land.
In name of safety discarded life jackets of Mainland India or life jackets from black market are flooding these Islands, which obviously will kill people than saving them, during disaster.
Such negligent attitude also shows that safety measures are taken by various departments just for sake of performing duty and keeping the top officers happy.
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