Hindustan Times (Ranchi)

State allows JTDC to impose fine on firm over Trikoot tragedy

- Raj Kumar letters@hindustant­imes.com :

RANCHI The state law department has allowed the Jharkhand Tourism Developmen­t Corporatio­n (JTDC) to impose a ₹9.11 crore fine on Damodar Ropeway Constructi­on Pvt. Ltd., besides blacklisti­ng the company in connection with the 2022 Trikoot Ropeway tragedy, people close to the developmen­ts said on Friday.

The permission was granted in response to JTDC’s letter sent in September 2023, seeking legal opinion on the quantum of punishment decided by a probe committee after an inquiry into the mid-air ropeway tragedy on April 10, 2022, at Trikoot Ropeway in Deoghar, which claimed the lives of three tourists and paralyzed the operation of the ropeway so far.

An insider said, “The legal opinion was given in the first week of March but is still pending in the official file, and the erring company is yet to be punished.”

Tourism, art, culture, sports, and youth affairs department secretary Manoj Kumar confirmed the fact.

“They (JTDC) will put it (legal opinion) before the board, I think,” Kumar said, confirming the legal opinion.

“The Board of Directors is free to take the said recommenda­tion/decision since the said decision/recommenda­tion has been made based on the report of the Trikut Ropeway Inquiry Committee. It is known that on 10.04.2022, three tourists died in Trikut Ropeway Deoghar. After the investigat­ion conducted by the government, the Trikut Ropeway operator, Damodar Ropeway Constructi­on Private Limited, was found guilty in the investigat­ion report.

“Even according to the principle of vicarious liability, Trikut Ropeway Operator Company appears prima facie responsibl­e for the incident dated 10.04.2022. In response to the Show Cause Notice, the reply given by the operator Damodar Ropeway Constructi­on Pvt. Ltd. dated 18.09.2023 and 09.02.2024 is contained in the correspond­ence part. Therefore, keeping in view the principle of indirect liability and the principle of natural justice, the administra­tive corporatio­n can consider the decisions taken by the board of directors,” the legal opinion read.

JTDC managing director Anjali Yadav could not be contacted for her comment.

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