Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: The unofficial extension of work to Drishti Marine and its role in beach safety management sparked a contentious debate in the legislative assembly regarding drowning deaths and scams.
The starred question was put forth by Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, who claimed that the failure of the lifeguard contractor was demonstrated by the ongoing beach drowning deaths, even after spending several crores. He also insisted that Drishti’s contract and its lifeguarding function be investigated by a retired high court judge.
56 people have drowned in the last two years despite the Tourism Department having paid the lifeguard contractor Rs 226.83 crores over the previous five years. Furthermore, he claimed that the department has continued to operate without requesting a new tender even though the original contract expired in June 2024.
The Minister of Tourism, Rohan Khaunte, defended Drishti, saying that they have been doing a great job and clarifying that drowning deaths occur when bodies wash ashore or outside lifeguard duty hours, which are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Retrieving bodies and drowning are two different things. Taking selfies carelessly in spite of warnings is a common occurrence. Khaunte retorted, “Drowning and body retrieval are not the same.”
Alemao was still not satisfied, citing the 56 fatalities over the previous two years. Khaunte, on the other hand, provided data that indicated six drowning deaths in 2020, nine in 2021, six in 2022, six in 2023, and two in 2024.
“What percentage of these fatalities happened without lifeguards present? At Arambol, Miramar, Morjim, Sinquerim, Calangute, and Vagator, there have been seven fatalities. While the Home Department reports seven, the Tourism Department reports zero. Alemao fired back, “This discrepancy indicates a failure and non-coordination within the government.”
He went on to accuse a grand scheme and requested that a retired high court judge conduct an investigation, a demand that was echoed by the other opposition lawmakers.
In response, Khaunte said that it’s possible that these incidents happened when the lifeguards weren’t on duty. In response, he said that within the next three months, a new tender will be released for lifeguarding on the beaches.
The minister denied claims of illegality and irregularities regarding beach safety and lifeguarding projects, saying instead, “We are working on ensuring that we have the best lifeguarding system in place.”
