Floating lives

. PHOTO: AFP

The river passenger launch which sailed recently on the metropolis river taking a toll of more than 140 lives was constructed in the dock in just one month! (According to press reports): Unbelievable.

Rough estimate: 2m (two months) for redesigning (from standard configurations) and official approval processing time: 6m for priority construction in the most modern shipbuilding yard; in for pre-trials and minor changes and finishing by the dockyard team; 1m for official test and trials by the regulating authorities; another 1m for minor modification; and 1m for registration and documentation, before full clearance to ply with passengers. The rough estimate of the total period involved for this project comes to 12 months, minimum.

Even with the bakshish culture in full swing for forged documents, the physical construction and finishing job (before approaching for final approval) cannot be completed in one month. Even the top industrialised countries cannot do it in such a short time. Must be a world record.

One member of one of the preliminary probe teams is reported to have sarcastically remarked that if that be true, then big business groups would go into this line and flood the market and the rivers with thousands of launches, to cater to the needs of the inland water transport sector. The incubation period is too short and very much tempting for our innovative industrialists. There is no waiting period, practically. Why launches and other river craft are not on our Export List? It would beat the garment industry hollow.

The density on land of urban migration would decrease drastically, but the rivers would be crowded, like Dhaka's narrow streets. The new style would be to live a floating life, (like our politicians, who have no anchored life). We would be imitating the life style of the snake charmers and other boat people in life. We are accustomed to water and activities on the water surfaces, hence floods do not frighten us, our adaptability is that great and diverse.

In private drawing rooms, other questions are being asked. Why the shipping or IWT minister never drowns, and swims ashore safely every time there is a tragedy on the riverfronts. Good floating life, air-conditioned.

Marine regulations have become too watery. The point is that changes are not made in the offices higher up when there are public tragedies on the water front.

Perhaps this vibrant nation is practising stoicism.