BMC moots beach safety plan

In the wake of increasing drowning cases at the city beaches, the civic body on Tuesday decided to upgrade the beach safety measures.

In the last five years, 59 people drowned and the number has been increasing in the last few years.

The Standing Committee members expressed concern over the increasing drowning cases and lack of beach safety measures. The members asked the administration to come up with a policy in a month to ensure the safety and security of citizens.

Rahul Shewale, standing committee chairman, ordered the civic administration to come up with a policy in a month. “The safety measures at the beaches in the city should be done immediately like Goa. The administration should come up with a policy in a month to ensure safety of citizens and to improve the city’s tourism,” added Shewale.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has made Rs2.5-crore budgetary allocation for beach safety units for 2012-13 but is yet to use the funds.

“The lifeguards are posted at the beach and not in the sea, which makes them unable to patrol the Patel, BJP group leader, who raised a point of order about beach safety measures.

Patel demanded that lifeguards should be fully equipped to deal with any disaster. “Lifeguards should be given equipment like jet skis which would help them in patrolling a 1-km stretch at a time. Citizens should be made aware of the dangerous and safe places,” said Patel.