Long overdue, the city will soon get trained and well-equipped lifeguards to man its crowded beaches
Mumbai,June 18, 2009. After three people drowned at Aksa beach in Malad last month, the city administration has finally woken up to the dangers of the city’s shoreline. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now decided to hire professional lifeguards to patrol the city’s five most-visited beaches.
These personnel, who will be hired from a private firm that provides lifeguards, will also be equipped with modern paraphernalia that could aid in rough-sea rescues.
Confirming the move, additional municipal commissioner, Kishore Gajbhiye said, “Yes, we have decided to hire a professional agency to outsource lifeguards for Aksa, Madh, Juhu, Versova and Gorai. The crowds at these beaches are very difficult to handle, especially since we only have one lifeguard stationed at each spot.”
According to the proposal, the Goa-based firm will provide 35 lifeguards under a Rs 2-crore contract with the BMC.
Apart from manpower, the contract also includes the construction of 24x7 watchtowers on each beach. Every beach will also be equipped with speedboats and gear such as first-aid boxes, ropes, chains, torches, flags and signboards, a civic official disclosed.
The most important element, he said, would be a public address system, which would inform citizens about the tides and dangerous spots on the beach.
“Currently, we are far from an ideal situation when it comes to our city beaches. And obviously, we need to address this problem as soon as possible. We believe this proposal is a step in the right direction,” Gajbhiye said.
Presently, BMC has only five lifeguards, leaving four of the nine sanctioned posts vacant. Recently, the civic body had hired 18 lifeguards on a temporary basis for six months, until the new group joins them.
In early 2006, an NGO Janhit Manch filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court after a series of beach deaths sparked off a debate on inadequate security measures by Mumbai’s shores. A year ago, the state passed a government resolution (GR) on implementing safety norms for beaches, complete with lifeguards, search lights, watchtowers and sea patrols.
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