HC asks state to chalk out plan for coastline safety

Mumbai, June 7 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the government to draft a specific scheme for implementing safety measures across beaches in the state which has a coastline of 700 kms.

A division bench comprising justices R M Lodha and A S Bagga also directed the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to appoint guards to monitor the beaches in Mumbai.

The directions were in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by Mr Bhagwanji Rayani of Janhit Manch, an NGO.

Senior counsel for BMC, Mr K K Singhvi, contended that there are 13 posts of guards of which nine had already been appointed while four posts are vacant. The MCGM has plans to appoint seven more guards on contract basis.

He told the court that all the Mumbai beaches were not suitable for swimming and watersports excepting Chowpatty where a watersport agency provides its own guards.

The court further directed the Home Department principal secretary to file an affidavit within three weeks on the short-term and long-term safety norms to be adopted.

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