6-yr-old HC order makes no difference

Six years after the Bombay high court’s directions to the state government and the BMC about safety on beaches, the spots are far from safe.

On Tuesday, city-based NGO Janhit Manch, which filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in 2006, pointed out to the high court that the directions haven’t been implemented “in spirit”.  The PIL alleged that the government had failed to provide adequate safety measures on the beaches and seafronts in the state which has led to an increase in drowning cases.

A division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Nitin Jamdar kept the PIL for hearing on Thursday. Jamshed Mistry, counsel for the NGO, produced a report published in DNA on Tuesday which stated that 59 persons have died in the last five years along the beaches. “Despite the HC orders, there have not been many changes on the safety front,” said Mistry.

The BMC replied that it has appointed 12 permanent and 23 temporary lifeguards. Following HC orders, the government had passed a government resolution (GR) to implement safety measures on beaches and to prepare guidelines for water sports.