ISLAMABAD: Due to the negligence of the Lakeview Park administration and other departments concerned, boat operators in Rawal Lake ignore safety measures putting the lives of the visitors at risk.

In a report (copy available with Dawn), the Special Branch of the capital police said the life of those going for rowing in the lake was in danger due to the “massive negligence” of the administration regarding safety measures.

The boats used for rowing in the lake are in an “extremely terrible condition”. Small and big holes were found on some of the boats from which water oozed into the seats.

Majority of the sailors were inexperienced and underage who on the demand of the visitors tried to beat and smashed into other boats while rowing. They also poured water on the riders of other boats. Such a practice can lead to an accident, the report warned.

There are 90 boats in the lake but life jackets available with their operators were tattered due to which the riders avoided wearing them.

“The owners of the boats were also found overloading, which may also lead to an accident,” it added.

There are also no divers, rescue workers, paramedics and ambulances at the site. Motorboats and oxygen masks were also not available in a sufficient quantity to rescue any drowning person.

In the past, it was observed that during drowning of any visitor in the lake people approached the sailors to rescue them. But as the sailors were inexperienced, they failed to save the life of the drowning persons. Crowds were seen on the shores of the lake from where people embarked on boating after sunset. But there is no proper arrangement for lighting. As a result, the visitors may slip into water due to the darkness.

The report recommended that officials of the departments responsible for the safety of the people should ask the administration to take precautionary measures.

The boats in dilapidated conditions should be replaced and there should be a ban on operating of the boats by inexperienced and underage people. There should also be life jacket for each and every rider of the boats.

Rescue workers – diver, paramedics and doctors – equipped with oxygen masks and cylinder should be deployed in the lake.

Rowing should be banned in the middle of the lake and it should be confined to the edges of the water reservoir, it stated, adding proper lighting arrangements should also be made around the lake.

When contacted, CDA director parks Mohammad Irshad said the lake was not in the jurisdiction of the civic agency as it came under the Small Dam Organisation.

He said rowing was conducted in the lake illegally despite the fact that a local court had banned the activity in the water reservoir.

However, as the people went for rowing while visiting the Lakeview Park, which was managed by the CDA, the civic agency was taking steps for the safety of the people. He said efforts were underway to stop the rowing service, adding security guards and police had been deployed there to intercept the boaters.

CDA spokesman Asim Kichi also said they had no control over the lake.

Executive Engineer Rawal Dam Mr Zafar and SO Rawal Dam Rana Bilal could not be contacted for their comment on the matter.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2014