HC questions govt over beach safety

A day after the tragic death of 14 students by drowning off the famous Murud-Janjira beach in Raigad district, a city-based NGO filed a public interest litigation on the issue of safety of public on beaches and the court has sought to know from the government what measures it has taken to secure beaches in order to avoid a repeat of such incidents.

NGO Janhit Manch on Tuesday filed a PIL through Jamshed Mistry before the division bench headed by Justice Naresh H. Patil. Advocate Mistry while mentioning the petition said that in 2006 the high court had passed certain directions on the issue of safety on beaches.

Mr Mistry said that the high court had then asked the government and civic body to ensure setting up of watchtowers with floodlights and appointment of lifeguards at beaches. However the authorities have not implemented any direction.

He also pointed out to the court the incident of 14 students from a Pune college drowning off the Murud Janjira beach on Monday. The students were part of an around 130-strong picnic group from the Inamdar College in Pune. They had gone to Murud in three buses.

The bench has posted the petition for hearing on Wednesday and asked the government of Maharashtra to state what steps and measures it has taken till date to ensure safety in beaches.