Cargo vessel mishap rocks Jharkhand Assembly, government orders probe 

CM assures government intervention to rescue ailing HEC

Ranchi, March 25: Members of the opposition BJP on Friday created a ruckus in Jharkhand Assembly over a cargo vessel mishap in Sahibganj the day before, and demanded a CBI probe into the incident alleging that it occurred during illegal transportation of stone chips to Bihar.

At least three persons were reported missing as six trucks on board a cargo vessel, which was on its way to Katihar in Bihar, fell into the Ganga in Sahibganj, according to officials.

Proceedings in the Assembly had to be adjourned twice, first till 12 pm and then till 2 pm, amid uproar by BJP-led MLAs in the well of the House, seeking a probe by the central agency into Thursday’s incident, and compensation for families of those who died in the accident.

The saffron party also demanded suspension of Sahibganj deputy commissioner (DC) and the superintendent of police (SP), alleging that the transportation was being done under their patronage.

Parliamentary affairs minister Alamgir Alam, however, told the Assembly that no casualty had been reported thus far.

“Administrations of both the states – Jharkhand and Bihar — are jointly carrying out search operations. Divers from the two states have been pressed into service to trace the missing people,” Alam said.

A four-member committee has been set up to probe the allegation of illegal transportation.

Earlier, during the question hour, BJP leader and former CM Babulal Marandi said, “In July 2021, I wrote to the chief ministers of Jharkhand and Bihar, informing them about the illegal transportation of stone chips via Ganga. Apart from authorised ferry ghats (banks), there are also some illegal ghats operating on the route.

“I demand a CBI probe into the matter and the suspension of Sahibganj DC and the SP as they, too, are involved in the illegal practice.” Godda legislator Pradip Yadav, who joined the Congress after the JVM (P) split, said that government should take cognizance of it, and a fair investigation should be conducted into the incident.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren today expressed his commitment to rescue the Heavy Engineering Corporation, from the crisis.

His commitment came to the fore after independent legislator Saryu Roy raised the issue of HEC through a non-official resolution in the Jharkhand assembly expressing his concern over its situation and asked the state government to mount pressure on the union government.

Soren said the public sector unit is an iconic structure that has played a vital role in the development of the country and the state government has always thought about its permanent existence according to its ability and capacity.

The Jharkhand government is not opposed to the caste census. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam in the Vidhan Sabha said that if there is a feeling of MLAs, then its resolution can be passed by the Assembly and sent to the Centre. MLA Sudesh Mahto had demanded the inclusion of other castes in the caste census under a non-official resolution in the House.

Sudesh Mahto said that as a policy matter, the central government has decided only last year that there will be no caste census other than scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, whereas after caste census in Jharkhand, for the integrated development and participation of all sections. It is needed. Census is a major basis for policy making and caste data also plays an important role in determining the extent of reservation.

Alamgir said that caste census can prove to be an important factor in drawing up the roadmap for development and welfare programmes. He referred to the order of the Tamil Nadu High Court regarding this. On which the government talked about studying it.

Alamgir Alam said that the caste census in the state is not yet under consideration with the government. It does not come under the jurisdiction of the state. The caste census can be done only at the level of the central government. In 2011, the Central Government had conducted the Economic and Social Census. The state will have to pass a resolution from the assembly and send it to the central government to conduct the caste census on its own. He further said that in the coming time, after passing a resolution from the Assembly, we will send it to the Government of India.