Vadodara civic body’s Sursagar boating plans rock in uncertainty

VADODARA: In what could be termed as setback to Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) plan to restart boating facility at the Sursagar lake, a consumer rights activist has raised safety issues over the project.
Activist P V Moorjhani has issued a notice to the VMC raising concerns over the lack of safety guidelines and compensation package.
Moorjhani has asked the civic body to come clear on the compensation package to be paid to victims in case of an accident during the boating activity.
“The VMC has said that if some accident happens during the boating, the contractor will be responsible for it. The civic body is trying to escape its responsibility by putting the onus on the contractor,” Moorjhani told TOI.
“In 1993, 22 Barodians died when a boat capsized in Sursagar lake. Even then the VMC had said that the contractor was responsible for paying the compensation. We had approached the Supreme Court that had asked the VMC to deposit compensation amount first with the State Consumer Commission and then recover it from the insurance firm,” Moorjhani, managing trustee of Jagrut Nagrik Grahak Mandal, said.
“The court had also asked the VMC to issue clear safety guidelines. Despite the SC verdict, the VMC is yet again trying to shift all the responsibility on the contractor. I have asked the civic body to announce a certain amount to be paid as compensation in case of some injury or death arising due to an accident while boating,” Moorjhani added.
On August 11, 1993, a major tragedy struck when a boat carrying 38 persons capsized in Sursagar lake.
The boat, having a capacity of 20 persons, was overloaded. The matter reached the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission where the VMC was accused of negligence. The civic body had argued that the insurance firm is responsible for compensation.
But the SC too rejected VMC’s claims and asked the civic body to deposit the compensation amount first.
“If the VMC doesn’t come clear on the compensation issue and declare safety measures that it is planning to take, I will approach the court,” Moorjhani said.