Vadodara Lake Tragedy: Interim report says contractor "blatantly violated agreements," HC questions civic body

Ahmedabad: A preliminary investigation into the Vadodara lake tragedy in which 15 persons including 12 school children were killed has found that "the support person of the boat, helpers and operators didn't have any professional training, neither did they know swimming." While the report has blamed the private contractor for "blatant violation of agreements" specially related to safety of visitors, a division bench of Gujarat high court questioned the civic authority's accountability and supervision.

The preliminary report has found that the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) had provided 99 life jackets and lifebuoys at the jetty at the southern end of the lake but they were not utilized by the vendor and his staff.

The investigation also confirms that the boat had a seating capacity of 14 passengers but it was carrying 23 students, four teachers, one support staff and two boat operators at the time of the incident.

On January 18, 12 children, two teachers and one helper of New Sunrise School drowned during a boat ride in Harni Lake in Vadodara city. According to an affidavit filed in Gujarat high court by IPS officer Nipuna Towawane, posted as secretary, home department, nine out of 20 accused have been arrested while lookout notices have been issued against eight others.

The affidavit has annexed the preliminary report prepared by Vadodara district collector A B Gor. The report states that the boat operator "picked speed while turning" which resulted in capsizing of the boat. Gor has stated that it was "the apparent reason to believe that the operator was not trained..."

"The unfateful boat was neither having enough life jackets nor lifebuoy rings. The PPP operating agency M/s Kotiya Projects had not kept lifeguards with speed boats present at the time of event. Otherwise the life of all deceased students and teachers would have been saved," the report stated.

Gor has said that there was an agreement signed between Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) and Vendor (Kotiya Projects Ltd) on July 21, 2017. It was done on the basis of public-private partnership. The collector has quoted some of the documents related to the agreement on safety. Gor has concluded that the vendor, Kotiya Projects, "blatantly violated conditions" of agreements specially on safety parts.

One of the conditions reads, "Life guards and life-jackets; Sense of security brings in more pleasure. The boating in the lake is very relaxing but at times it brings disaster without notice. The first precaution is in the form of compulsory life jackets for all sailors and the second line of safety is handled by trained and well equipped lifeguards."

Another portion of the agreement reads, "Separate Jetty for boating from where visitors mount and dismount their boats for fun boating and the other solely for the life guards and their boats for surveillance and security. Separate jetty for the life guard would serve independently without clashing with the visitors' boat while attending to any emergency."

The interim report also states that the VMC body asked the vendor (Kotiya Projects) about the implementation of conditions of agreement on November 2, 2022 and November 11, 2022. The vendor replied to the civic body about the compliance. But, the report states, further verification of the project by VMC is yet to be provided to the undersigned (Gor) by the VMC."

The Gujarat high court on Monday while hearing a suo motu questioned the VMC's accountability. A division bench led by chief justice Sunita Agarwal said that the contractor was engaged by the corporation. The bench said that if water bodies are being given for amusement to private persons, "there has to be some accountability and supervision."