Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sambalpur, Apr 18:

The central Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) who is scheduled to submit his report on the tragic Hirakud boat mishap to the Odisha government tomorrow, is unlikely to stick to the deadline due to delay in the recording of the statement of the concerned officials, sources said.

(pic : Biju Pattnaik) (pic : Biju Pattnaik)

However, the report would be submitted to the government by April end, said RDC Dr Pramod Meherda.

It may be mentioned that the state Home department, in a letter to the RDC on February 19 had asked him to submit a report by April 19 on the cause of the mishap, people responsible for the mishap and measures to ensure no such recurrence in future.

Acting on the letter, the RDC during the investigation, had recorded the statements of 50 persons including Sambalpur collector Balwant Singh and SP Pratik Mohanty.

While the Dhanakauda BDO did not turn up to record his statement owning to health reasons, former sub collector Surendra Panda (presently posted as sub collector of Jeypore) failed to turn up as he was busy in official work.

Again on April 16, they failed to turn up as they were busy in the election work.

However, with the election in the state now over, the two officials are scheduled to record their statements on April 23, after which the report would be submitted to the government by the month-end, the RDC informed.

It may be mentioned that 31 passengers had drowned in the Hirakud reservoir while the motorboat in which they were ferrying, capsized on February 9.