Mumbai : Civic body’s plan to improve beach safety yet to take off

In spite of the growing number of deaths caused by drowning at the city's beaches, the civic body's plan to increase the number of lifeguards and modernise its beach safety equipment is yet to take off.

In spite of the growing number of deaths caused by drowning at the city's beaches, the civic body's plan to increase the number of lifeguards and modernise its beach safety equipment is yet to take off.

HT Image

Moreover, there are no lifeguards present at Marve beach where the three drowning deaths occurred on Sunday afternoon.

Marve beach, an extension of Aksa beach, has eight lifeguards stationed for security of beachgoers. But the jurisdiction of these lifeguards does not extend up to the Marve beach and the jetty region there.

"The rock line and creek at Marve beach is more treacherous because of the undercurrents and depths of the sea. It is a no-swimming zone and hence there is no presence of lifeguards at the Madh-Marve jetty and the beach," said an official from the Mumbai Fire Brigade that is in charge of beach safety in the city.

The BMC had also planned to increase its posts of lifeguards from 35, at present, to 84.

But officials said that due to the lack of response to its recruitment process, it has been able to fill only 49 of the posts.

Meanwhile, the BMC is also yet to finalise the proposal to procure equipment such as jet skis, speed rescue boats, beach signages, lifeguard chairs and the installation of watch towers.

“Tenders have been received and we are in the process of scrutinising them and finalising the proposal,” said the official.