Ace swimmers as lifeguards on beaches

The June 13 incident prompted the civic body to appoint trained and skilled lifeguards. To fill up vacant posts of lifeguards,the BMC plans to place ads inviting individuals having swimming,diving and rescuing skills to take up the job,said Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiksar. Out of the 36 posts of trained BMC lifeguards,only seven have been filled and the rest are vacant. “Hiring and training lifeguards will still take some time. That’s why we are inviting citizens. They will be BMC employees,” said Mhaiskar.

About seven trained firemen are now posted on the Madh,Marve,Aksa,Juhu and Versova beaches.

After scrapping the ‘Baywatch beach safety model’ first proposed in October 2008,the BMC is also planning to rope in private firms. Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya admitted the BMC did not have modern rescue equipment. “The appointment of a private agency on contract can ensure some modern rescue equipment are available,” said a senior fire brigade official. The ‘Baywatch model’ at a cost of Rs. 3 crores had included watch-towers,life-jackets,speed-boats,diving equipment etc.

NGOs and local fishermen will also operate on voluntary basis. “We have chalked out a thee-tier system depending on the intensity and danger. On a holiday or on days with very high tides and heavy showers,there will be more lifeguards,” added Mhaiskar.