Bombay High Court slams government over beach safety

Govt hasn’t implemented a GR passed in 2006 on security of beaches

The Bombay high court on Wednesday expressed shock over the death of 14 students by drowning at Murud beach and reprimanded the government of Maharashtra and the municipal corporations for failing to implement a Government Resolution (GR) on safety and security of beaches issued several years back.

The division bench headed by Justice Naresh H. Patil was hearing a public interest litigation filed by NGO Janhit Manch way back in 2010 raising the issue of people’s safety on beaches. The NGO had mentioned this PIL before the court after 14 students from Pune died at Murud in district Raigad and informed the court that in 2006, the high court had passed certain directions following which on September 8, 2006, the government had issued a GR on this issue. However, the GR has still not been implemented.

The bench issued notices to collectors of districts Ratnagiri, Raigad and Sindhudurg to inform the court why the GR was not implemented so far. The judges also asked the collector of Mumbai to ensure safety measures in Mumbai beaches like Girgaum and Juhu Chowpatty, Gorai and Aksa beaches.

The bench observed it was shocking that so many students, of which 10 were girls, drowned at the Murud-Janjira beach. The judges also said there is no system in place such as warning signals, lifeguards and watchtowers to prevent incident of drowning in beaches.

“You (government and BMC) wake up only after something like this happens,” said the bench. When the government pleader said that despite danger the students ventured into water, the bench said, “do not give these reasons as the victims were not small children. There should be big signboards warning people about present danger.”

The judge also said that there is a beach policy in Goa and due to this policy even speed boats are deployed if anybody is noticed going too far in the water and these people are made to go back so that nobody drowns. The judges suggested that such kind of policy could also be adopted in Maharashtra.

The court has posted this matter for further hearing on February 12.