Kochi boat tragedy: Tony Chammany refutes charge that the boat was unfit
The mishap took place near the jetty
Kochi: The Kochi Corporation giving permission for a 35-year-old vessel to operate passenger services on a contract basis came into sharp focus following the Fort Kochi boat tragedy on Wednesday.
The civic body giving permission to a boat in such a pathetic condition has been under criticism many a times, said V.D. Majeendran, state coordinator for National Alliance of People’s Movement. Kochi mayor Tony Chammany, however, refuted the allegations that the corporation operated an unfit boat.
“The boat has fitness certificate issued by department of ports, which is the authorised agency. The corporation has done nothing illegal as a credible and official agency has certified the boat as fit for service,” he said.
The civic body has been running the boat by leasing it out to a private individual for operating on Vypeen–Fort Kochi route.