The Bombay high court on Friday directed the government of Maharashtra to implement beach safety measures, which include posting lifeguards, putting up warning signals and watchtowers, at all beaches
The Bombay high court on Friday directed the government of Maharashtra to implement beach safety measures, which include posting lifeguards, putting up warning signals and watchtowers, at all beaches across the state by July 31.
The division bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Amjad Sayed observed that many lives have been lost in the past. The bench was hearing Public Interest Litigation filed by Janhit Manch an NGO in the wake of a drowning incident earlier this year in which 14 students drowned, of which 10 were girls.
The bench observed that these measures might help in preventing cases of drowning and saving precious lives of people.
The state on Friday informed the court that it has taken interim measures and is in the process of making permanent arrangements for safety of public. It was pointed out by the petitioner in their arguments that there is a government resolution (GR) of September 9, 2006 relating to beach safety that is still not implemented.
Following this the court reprimanded the state and the civic body stating that as it has almost been 10 years since the GR was passed, interim relief is not enough and permanent action needs to be taken.
The government pleader then informed the court that state has deployed 10 lifeguards, seven jet skies and 25 lifeboats and is in the process of obtaining more of them.
At this, the court observed that little implementation has taken place and asked the state to completely implement the beach safety measures by July 31.
