By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Mar 28: The number of tourists and locals saved from being drowned in the Goa’s beaches has seen increasing trend in 2008, a government statistics mentions.
The statistics tabled on the floor of the house during the recently concluded state legislative assembly session reveals that in 2006, nine lives were saved while in 2007 eleven people were rescued from the beach waters. The figure has rose to 44 in the calendar year 2008.
The maximum saves were at Baga beach in North Goa and queen of South goan beaches Colva where state government has initiated integrated beach safety management scheme.
Mumbai-based Drishti Adventure Sports Pvt Ltd have been contracted two stretches by Goa’s tourism ministry.
The scheme which was launched on October 1, last year has 125 lifeguards manning the beaches. The Drishti team manages two stretches - Baga to Siquerim (North) and Velsao to Benaulim (South) beach belts.
Goa has been receiving bad repute because of the increasing deaths due to drowning. The drowning death phenomena has, however, witnessed declining trend in 2008.
The statistics reveals that in 2006, 65 people died due to drowning, in 2007, 91 people and in 2007 the number crashed to mere 72, which is a positive sign.
“The integrated beach safety management was formulated with the sole aim of saving life because goa was getting bad name due to high rate of drowning death,” Lyndon Monteiro, officer on special duty to tourism ministry, said on Saturday afternoon.
“This scheme has proved out to be very successful and great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment of our duties that we have saved so many lives. Our aim is zero drowning deaths in goa,” he said.
Monteiro added that the scheme is one of the kind in whole of India and on par with the best schemes rated with the top level in the whole world.
The official stated that in the forthcoming financial year emphasis are to extend this scheme to other stretches where it is not functional at the moment.