Places of mass recreation for citizens

Leisure should be enjoyable and safe

With the onset of warm weather, residents and guests of our town and district are drawn to nature, primarily to rivers and lakes, to relax, refresh, and regain strength after their working days. Often, while on holiday, they forget about personal property security measures, rules of conduct on water, and fire safety regulations, which sometimes leads to tragic consequences. Some consume alcohol, light fires in fire-hazardous areas, pollute the environment with household waste, engage in illegal logging, and poach fish, thereby becoming offenders.

Within the territory of Lepel town and Lepel district, the district executive committee has designated areas permitted for swimming, areas where swimming is prohibited, and areas for mass public recreation, i.e., those where a significant number of citizens gather under certain circumstances.

Prohibited swimming areas include those where it is dangerous to swim due to the bottom relief, currents, proximity to technical structures, and other safety considerations. For instance, a decision by the Lepel District Executive Committee stipulates that swimming is prohibited in melioration and technical canals, ponds, dugouts, flooded quarries, artificial fire reservoirs, sewage treatment facilities, backwaters, and at locations of dams, locks, bridges, embankments, and other hydraulic structures. Swimming in these areas entails administrative liability under Article 24.42 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offences (hereinafter referred to as the CAO). Such a violation may result in a fine of up to three basic units.

Permitted swimming areas are beaches and coastal territories of lakes and rivers. To ensure normal recreation and public safety, these areas are improved, meaning they are equipped with sunshades, changing rooms, waste containers, and toilets. Furthermore, before the opening of the swimming season, the bottom of the beach waters is cleared of household waste and other objects that could cause injury to people by means of divers from the Voluntary Society for the Rescue of Persons on Water (OSVOD). Thus, swimming and recreation in such places are safer.

Places of mass recreation for citizens are locations with the highest attendance, including during cultural and mass events. In our town and district, these are the beach on Lake Lepel, located on Vitebskaya Street, the beach on Lake Svyatoye on the Vera Margevich Street side, and the beach of KUP DROTS "Zhemchuzhina" on Lake Shchibot in the village of Borovka.

However, it should not be forgotten that all recreation areas are public places. In this regard, the consumption of alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages and beer, the use of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues, as well as appearing in a state of intoxication in these places, entails administrative liability under Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences. During the summer period, the internal affairs bodies will pay special attention to ensuring public safety and maintaining public order in these locations, as violations of elementary rules of conduct, or swimming while intoxicated, are often the causes of accidents and loss of life.

Also, it quite often happens that, carried away by recreation and swimming in cool water on a hot day, people leave their belongings unattended, including expensive phones, cameras, and other valuables. "Dishonest people" may take advantage of this and steal them. Therefore, do not leave your belongings unattended, comply with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus and the rules of conduct on the water, and your recreation will be pleasant and safe.

Department of Public Order Protection and Prevention of the Lepel District Executive Committee Department of Internal Affairs.