Almost 99% of Goa's beaches will receive lifeguard cover by May 30 with 118
lifeguards to be commissioned within the next couple of weeks as part of the
government's ambitious beach safety management programme.
Tourism director Nikhil Desai told TOI Monday that he was confident Phase 2 B
of the beach safety management programme will be in place by the end of the
month, although its implementation has met with opposition from locals at Keri,
Ashwem and Agonda over the setting up of lifeguard towers on disputed sites.
"The government will facilitate the smooth implementation of the programme," he
said. It may be pointed out here that smaller and isolated beach stretches such
as Cabo de Rama will not receive lifeguard cover. The government, however, says
it will take steps to ensure that awareness prevents drownings at these
stretches.
"We'll put up signboards plus deploy the tourist security force," Desai said.
Incidentally, the government's efforts to have Drishti Special Response
Services (DSRS) to provide lifeguard cover to Mayem Lake and Dudhsagar
Waterfalls has not met with success. Desai, though seemed undeterred. "We are
trying to work out modalities where we can recruit locals from these areas as
lifeguards. It will be an advantage as they possess local knowledge and the
government will also provide them the necessary training and infrastructure,"
the tourism director said.
DSRS, meanwhile, have already rolled out its cover at Palolem and Arambol. "The
beaches that will receive cover in Phase 2 B are Keri; Arambol, including the
sweet water lake; Ashwem, Mandrem and Morjim in North Goa. In the South, we are
providing lifeguard cover to Palolem, Patnem, Rajbag, Cola, Agonda and
Galgibaga," says V K Kanwar, chief operating officer, DSRS.
"In the South, we are already deployed at Palolem and Patnem. Rajbag should be
covered by Wednesday. Galgibaga and Cola will be covered soon. However, we are
facing a problem at Agonda over the erection of a lifeguard tower," he said.
"In the North, we are already deployed at Arambol beach, where the sweet water
lake has got lifeguard cover as well. Morjim will be covered by Wednesday and
our services at Keri should be set up quickly. However, we are facing
opposition at Ashwem over the erection of a lifeguard tower. Not withstanding
this opposition, we will go ahead and deploy our lifeguards at both beaches,"
Kanwar added.
Kanwal also said that 99% of the lifeguards to be commissioned in Phase 2 B are
locals from the coastal areas. "The total strength of Goa's lifeguard force
will be 423 personnel," he said.
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