Guwahati: The World Bank has sanctioned over Rs 100 crore to implement the Jiban Dinga scheme to make travelling by private engine fitted boats safer. The Government has already started implementing the scheme in the State and the response from the boat owners is also very positive.

The World Bank has so far sanctioned an amount of Rs 101.67 crore for the implementation of the scheme.

Sources pointed out that most of the privately operated engine-fitted country boats are not considered safe as those are not fitted with marine engines. Such boats are generally fitted with agriculture pumps, motorcycle engines, etc, and those cannot be maneuvered or stopped in case of an emergency. Such engines do not have a reverse gear and
it is not easy to control the speed of the boats fitted with such engines. That is why the Government decided to replace the engines of such boats registered with the Inland Water Transport Department with marine engines.

Under the Jiban Dinga scheme, initially, it was decided that the Government would provide 70 percent of the cost of the marine engines while the rest of the amount would be paid by the owners. But after the Nimatighat boat tragedy, the Government decided to bear the 100 percent cost of replacing the old engines of the engine-fitted country boats with marine engines to ensure the safety of the passengers.