The conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) and M/s Kotia Projects for the development of the Harni Motnath Lake on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis did not permit the developer to deploy motorised boats for the purpose of entertainment in the boating facility, The Indian Express has learnt. According to the MoU signed between the then VMC Commissioner and Binit Kotia, the owner of M/s Kotia Projects, in July 2017, the developer was only supposed to operate “peddle-boating with a separate jetty for lifeguards” — a vital ‘covenant’ that was evidently violated by deployment of motorised boats and absence of life guards and other safety equipment that resulted in the tragedy that killed 12 students and two teachers last week. Laying down conditions and specifications, including mandatory “life-guard’s jetty for surveillance and security”, for the execution of the project, the MoU states, “It is agreed by the developer to develop the Harni Motnath lake on PPP mode for controlled entry and exit points, appropriate parking areas for …