MUMBAI, November 5: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today asserted that the Aksa beach, which has already claimed 14 lives this year, is well-manned by BMC life guards `to ensure complete safety of revellers.'However, a visit to the beach by Express Newsline and interviews with several locals pointed otherwise.

The sole BMC life guard post lies abandoned. The only life guard in this Jeevan Rakshak Chowki (see picture) constructed on a six-feet high platform behind The Resort hotel seem to be Hindu deities. The deserted post adorned with pictures of deities is now used as a playpen by children.

But even when these facts were pointed out to additional municipal commissioner (western suburbs), Ratnakar Gaikwad, he maintained that ``our life guards are present at the beach round-the-year to prevent casualties. Besides this we have also put up warning sign boards.''

Gaikwad denied that the life guard post at the beach had been abandoned.

``We have enough life guards at the beach and their performance is reviewed every year. I do not have the data right now, but I can assure you that the number of people rescued by them has gone up substantially in the last couple of years,'' he added.

When asked why these BMC-appointed life guards failed to save people's lives, Gaikwad said, ``These are stray incidents despite the safety measures taken by the BMC. The beach stretches over a vast area and it is difficult to monitor it at all times.''

Locals say that contrary to bureaucratic `truths' the last life guard was seen at the post several years ago.

``He too was a volunteer,'' said Baba Kamble, a resident in the neighbourhood.

Two sign boards put up by the BMC at the approach to the beach warn picnickers that entering the waters could be dangerous due to the strong currents and quicksand, have been rusted and the warnings are indistinguishable.

Fire brigade officials searching for the bodies of the four boys who drowned off the beach on Sunday were also frantically looking for these non-existent life guards. The beach is not lit and relatives reportedly used candles in a desperate attempt to look for bodies.

P north ward officer, M Sawant, washed his hands off the issue, claiming that saving lives was not the BMC's job. Flatly denying that the BMC was ``in any way'' responsible for the frequent drownings at the killer beach, Sawant said, ``The BMC's work is to provide amenities, maintain cleanliness and ensure that there are no encroachment on beaches.''

``We have already put up sign boards on the beach but cannot physically stop people from entering the waters,'' he added.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.