If all goes well, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will implement its beach safety model called the ‘Baywatch model’ in the next 25 days.

The BMC will appoint 25 lifeguards to look after the city’s five regularly frequented beaches — Aksa, Gorai, Juhu, Madh and Marwe, and will shell out Rs 1.5 crore on this. The model had been outsourced to two contractors — Drushti Special Response Services Pvt. Ltd and Causeways Marine India Pvt. Ltd. “The proposal is in its final stages and will be tabled before the standing committee for approval, within a fortnight,” said executive health officer Dr Jairaj Thanekar. “We are doing our level best to ensure that the plan is up and running before the monsoon,” said Dr Thanekar.

Those below 33 years of age, have a SSC certificate, are physically fit and good swimmers are eligible for the job.

Two years ago in April, a Newsline campaign ‘Save the Beach’ had pointed out the sorry state of Mumbai beaches — with thickly spread plastic waste, encroachments and poor security measures. This time, the civic body doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.

Besides allotting trained lifeguards, the plan also entails having modern equipment like watch towers, binoculars, life-saving kits, communication systems, lifeboats, rescue boats and detailed signboards with maps depicting danger zones and tide timings. “With this model, we are not only taking care of the security but also safety of the lifeguards and cleanliness of beaches,” said Dr Thanekar.

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