ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: The Ministry of Environment on Friday placed a ban on motorboats in Rawal Lake with immediate effect.

Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) issued an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) to the Capital Development Authority (CDA), directing it to disallow use of motorboats.

The move was based on the fact that Rawal Lake was a major source of drinking water for Rawalpindi, and motorboats were causing pollution due to discharge of oil and grease from their engines.

Apart from this the constant churning of lake water increased its turbidity, increasing cost incurred on treatment of water before it is supplied for drinking purposes.

The water contamination at Rawal Lake remained an issue of prime importance for years and for this purpose a high powered “Rawal Lake Catchments Monitoring Committee (RLCMC)” was constituted under the chairmanship of the secretary interior, with the representation of key stakeholders, including Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) , Pak-EPA, CDA, and Small Dam Organisation.

This committee imposed complete ban on motorboats operating at Rawal Lake in its meeting held on July 7, 2004. But the ban became ineffective with the passage of time.

At present, there were around 24 motorboats in operation at Rawal Lake.

On inquiry, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) informed the Pak-EPA that they had allowed only paddle boats at Rawal Lake.