Shimla, May 3 -- Mandatory life jackets, trained boat operators, certified instructors, lifeguards and multilingual warning boards - the Bilaspur administration has made these non-negotiable for all water-based activities with immediate effect. Taking serious note of recent boat tragedies in Mathura and Jabalpur that claimed over 20 lives, the district administration has made it clear that any safety lapse will invite strict penal action. In Bilaspur district, where boat operations, water sports, tourism activities and ferry services are conducted on a large scale at Govind Sagar Lake and the Kol Dam reservoir, the move is aimed at tightening regulation and preventing any repeat of such tragedies. DC and chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, Rahul Kumar, has issued comprehensive safety directives, making compliance mandatory and enforceable with immediate effect. As per the orders, every boat and watercraft must carry an adequate number of life jackets of various sizes, lifebuoys, safety ropes, first-aid kits and other approved life-saving equipment. The administration has also strictly barred overloading. Boats must clearly display their carrying capacity, and under no circumstances shall passenger limits be exceeded. Motorboats must operate within safe limits, with engine capacity proportionate to seating capacity....