Ferryboat stranded in Chilika over dispute on ghat license

Chilika: More than 100 passengers on a ferryboat were left stranded in Chilika lake today following dispute among boatmen over ghat services.

The boat carrying two buses, 20 bikes and more than 100 passengers travelling from Satapada was halted midway by villagers from Mahinsa.

After more than an hour of being stranded in mid of the lake, the ferryboat returned to Satapada.

As per reports, Janhikuda and Mahinsa villages entered a dispute on Saturday over auction of boat services in the area.

Villagers of Mahinsa who won the auction for boat services, have decided not to allow boatmen of Janhikuda to operate in the area, said sources.

The tiff between the two villages has affected residents of Krushnaprasad block who extensively depend on ferryboat services.

Meanwhile, the district administration is yet to step in and resolve the issues between both the villages.