Shillong: In order to prevent fatal accidents, including drowning, in tourist spots, rivers and streams in East Jaintia Hills, the District Magistrate on Friday promulgated section 144 CrPC with immediate effect prohibiting all tourism societies, village authorities, government departments from operating boat tours without providing life jackets to each individual person, tourist before boarding the boat, a release issued here said.
The order came after several cases of fatal accidents and drowning were reported in the district.
The Magistrate said that these accidents occurred during activities like trekking, fishing, sports festivals and commuting to their cultivated land.
He said that open ponds, abandoned coal mine shafts, water bodies formed due to mining are posing a danger to elders and children alike.
Also, unavailability of life jackets and improper barricade, fencing, railing at tourist spots, rivers, streams, mining shafts have resulted in many fatal accidents, the official said.
The order stated that boat owners, including government departments, should have sufficient life jackets and boatmen should be qualified and experienced to guide passengers on safety measures.
The order also stated that abandoned coal mine shafts, water bodies formed due to mining activities should be properly fenced by land owners and village authorities should disseminate the instruction in their own villages and instruct land owners, coal miners to properly fence the coal mine shafts within their respective jurisdiction.
Besides, Elaka authorities are also to disseminate similar instruction to their subjects on safety measures.
The order also prohibited swimming in high running water, accumulated ponds, water bodies.
