PONDA: Usually people faces hardship when a ferryboat breaks down, but in a unique incident at Durbhat-Rasoi Ferry route the passengers faced the hardship due to ferry staff not reporting for duty on Diwali day, causing hardship to people travelling along this route.
The ferry staff operating on this route said on Wednesday that due to shortage of staff, the ferry boat was not operated on Diwali day.
However, refusing to accept this excuse, local BJP leader Prashant Naik said that there is plenty of staff recruited by PWD Minister in river navigation, hence, there is no question of dearth of staff. “This is a lethargic attitude of ferry staff,” he alleged.
“These people (ferry staff) jobs easily, so they are not bothered about providing quality service to people who depend on ferry service,” he said.
“But if there really is shortage of staff in river navigation department, then the government should fill up those posts so that people would not face hardship in absence of ferry service due to shortage of staff,” Naik said.
Rohidas Naik from Keloshim, who travels through Rasoi-Durbhat Ferry to Ponda, said when the ferry service is closed, people would be forced to travel 15 km distance on road from Borim to Ponda.
Official of Captain of Ports was not available for comments.
