BMC to get cracking on beach safety plan

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: If the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is to be believed, watch towers stocked up on safety equipment and lifeguards ready to jetski to the rescue of the victims will soon be a reality on the city's beaches and shorelines.
    A beach safety patrol project—which has been pending since the Bombay high court directed the state to come up with a plan for beach safety in July 2006—has finally got the BMC's administrative sanction. What it means is that tenders will now be invited to outsource the management of various safety aspects on the beach. BMC's executive health officer Jairaj Thanekar confirmed to TOI that tenders will be invited for the project soon.
    According to sources, Juhu beach, Madh Island, Aksa, Marve and Gorai beaches will be outsourced in the first phase. Apart from setting up watch towers, areas will be demarcated in such a way that tourists and visitors are kept away from places that will be identified as dangerous.
    The beaches will also classified under various zones. Beaches like Girgaum and Juhu, which are a hot favourite with tourists, will be put in Zone A. Beaches like Mahim, where fishing activities are undertaken, will be put in Zone B and places like Bandstand, Gateway of India and Haji Ali will be categorised in Zone C.
    In addition, corridors have been earmarked for rescue operations—like beach corridor, green corridor and yellow corridor. In case of Bandstand, the green and yellow corridor will be put into place. Rescue work will start along the seashore and extend to one km into the sea. The green corridor will be activated once the rescue operation extends more than one more km inside the sea. "Once the green corridor limit, earmarked at 2 km, ends the coast guards will take over rescue operation,'' said an officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, which is supervising the project.
    Incidentally, the plan was initiated after a PIL was filed by NGO Janhit Manch. President of the Manch Bhagwanji Rayani told TOI, "The Bombay high court had then directed the state government to have lifeguards in all beaches across Maharashtra. I have been going to Juhu beach for my morning walks but I have still to come across any lifeguards,'' said Rayani.
ON THE CARDS
The safety patrol will comprise
Command control & changing room for the personnel with a maintenance shed for equipment
Kayaks for quick navigation
A hotline to get in touch with the BMC in case of emergency
A communication link with personnel patrolling the sea
Stretchers to transport victims to ambulances
Whistles Rescue tubes
Surf boards Ring buoys with 30 mtr rope line Water-proof torch Life jackets THE WATERFRONTS
Places where the safety patrol will be set up
Gateway of India Girgaum Chowpatty Priyadarshani Park, Napeansea Road Mahalaxmi temple/ Haji Ali Worli seaface Dadar Chowpatty Mahim beach Bandstand Juhu beach Madh Island Aksa beach Marve beach Gorai beach