Lack of lifeguards make Goan beaches 'risky'
Panaji, May 1, 2007: It's not just the crowded umbrellas and deck beds, but whispering and breezy palm beaches of Goa have much more chaos to offer. The killer waves on Goan beaches are taking a toll up to 70 to 80 tourists drowning per year, due to the lack of life saving facilities, trained life guards and the awareness 'signals' for tourists on these vast stretches of sand.
The state has just 9 Life Guards, that too ill equipped for the stretch of 40 odd beaches, of which 12 are most popular and crowded. The situation has made the High Court of Bombay (Goa Bench) to take suo moto cognizance of the grave situation and order security measures for the tourist, who just go mad at the Goan Waters, though the influence of 'liquor factor' has a significant role to play in these sizeable tragedies.
The scientific study made by the state government under the directions of court revealed that, the total toll on the beaches for last 5 years has risen to 312, with an average 70 to 80 drowning cases per year across 40 odd beaches in the state. Last four months of the current year itself witnessed 28 drowning deaths across the state. The main Beaches of Calangute, Baga, Candolim, Anjuna in the North and the Colva, Betalbhatim and Palolem have claimed 50 percent of this toll.
The Government is now analyzing and accessing the scientific study so as to come out with a "Tourist Safety and security plan", stated the Advocate General of the State before the court. The Government has a stipulated period of a month for the same, to place this document before the court. The recruitment process for about 90 life guards on the beaches is on under the training by "National Institute of Water Sports". The ones recruited earlier are on strike since August 06, for regularization in the service.
Though Government may feel a sigh of relief with tourist season coming to an end, its not too far from the next season with the adds and promos like "Goa, A 365 Days Holiday Destination"
