Views on safety and lack of facilities on Goan beaches.

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Lifeguards sore over lack of facilities at beaches
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The life of the lifeguards posted at the Colva beach seems to be even more
tragic than that of those who were drowned there. If there are two lifeguard's
at the Colva beach, Benaulim beach does not have a single one,
while a lone guard is posted at the Sernabatim.

The only two lifeguard's who man Colva cannot control "in pulled" tourist 
crowd
as this beach, sans toilets, communication, changing rooms and other 
facilities.
A rope, and a couple of rescue tubes is all that the life guards have at 
the beach
which attracts over a lakh of tourists in a season, to rescue those in 
distress.

Come monsoons, and one will see these lifeguards standing like statues
with raincoats at the beach. "there is no shelter for us in the rainy season,"
a life guard stated expressing his irk. Four years ago, a foundation stone
was put at the beach for the construction of toilets, but in reality it was
never constructed.

Only Sulabh toilets, which are 200 to 250 mt away from the road serves
the purpose. And still according to the lifeguards, to add to the woes,
they also lack changing room's. "If a female has a bath at the beach,
there are no changing facilities," guards point out. "Some tourists are
very arrogant. Even if we tell them that they have crossed the danger lines,
by waving red flags, they are least bothered, says a 43 year old life guard
having working at the beach.

"Even though, we save some valuable lives, there are no words of appreciation
from the department forgetting the rewards," laments the lifeguard adding
that on the contrary, the department never even bothered to insure their lives.
" To save our lifes, we are forced to get insured." a lifeguard informed.
According to the lifeguards, hardly a few adhere to the instructions given 
by them.
" the crazy Indian tourist often become victims of the drowning and that too
between the age group of 20 to 35," a visibly depressed lifeguard said.
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Navhind Times 16/12/02
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Making Beaches Safe
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It is sad to note that the tourism industry is unconcerned about the safety
of locals as well as tourists on beaches. More often than not,
people drown in the sea due to ignorance regarding dangerous currents,
foolhardy risks taken by non-swimmers or entering the sea in an intoxicated
state.

Miramar beach had a clean record for the past three and half years due to
the joint efforts of the tourism department and the Miramar Baywatch 
Association.
Watch is kept on this beach from the early hours of the morning to sundown
and people are warned about swimming in dangerous areas or venturing
too far away. However, government appointed life guards are on duty from
10 a.m to 5 p.m whereas most people prefer swimming either early in the
morning or late in the evening. There should be life guards posted
on beaches round the clock. It is also hoped that the tourism industry
will come forward and set up many baywatch associations along
all the beaches of Goa.

The beaches should be provided with all the necessary facilities
at nominal rates and the life guards should be provided with proper equipment.
The tourist police will do well to keep unregistered vendors and beggars
off the beaches. The tourism industry should realise that the government
cannot do the job without its support.

All the beaches in Goa can be made safe with the combined efforts
of baywatch associations, tourism department, municipality and police.
If the hotels along the beaches take up this exercise and form groups
to take care of a stretch of beach adjoining their properties, set up
lifeguard stations, put up warning boards and employ a couple of trained
lifeguards, beaches in Goa can be made safe and kept clean while ensuring
a good return on investment.

ANAND V MADGAVKAR, Panaji
in MY VIEW
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Navhind Times 18/12/02
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