Visakhapatnam: A proposal for installing watch towers to keep track of beach visitors entering dangerous blue waters at RK Beach and few others beaches in Vizag city still remains a pipedream. The beach tower was proposed by the authorities concerned around two years ago, following the drowning of three students but the proposal has not moved an inch moved.
With a series of drowning deaths at RK Beach, HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao convened a meeting of Coastal Security Police (Marine Police), Coast Guard and Navy and a decision was taken to launch a project worth '2.5 crore in the first phase for constructing a watch tower which would be fitted with public address system, CCTVs, so that persons watching would alert the people on the dangers of swimming in sea.
It was also planned to acquire few All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) as part of the project which can move on the beach from one end to the other, warning people on the shore. Rip boats and inflated high speed boats, with life saving equipment, were also suggested for prowling in the water to save people.
The beach visitors, mostly youngsters and students, continue to drown at the RK Beach and few other beaches at regular intervals.
However, the local authorities have appointed lifeguards who have saved some visitors during the past one week. But the number of lifeguards are not enough when the tourist season begins from this Dasara.
A Russian national and technician Emelianov Ivrii, 29, who came to Vizag city for undertaking repair works in the Naval Dockyard in Vizag city was feared drowned at RK Beach recently. A total of 96 people, including nine women, drowned in various beaches in Vizag City from January 2016 to September 2018.
A senior police officer, on conditions of anonymity, said that over 20,000 visit RK Beach during the peak season and in weekends. Just around six to 10 life guards at the beach are finding it difficult to prevent the drowning deaths as the rip current is high at the beach, he said.
Former IG of Coastal Security Police (CSP) K. Suryaprakash Rao suggested the government to install floating walls with nets at RK Beach and Rushikonda to prevent drowning and dragging into deep waters by the rip currents. But nothing has been done so far to give protection to the beach visitors.
The much-hyped watchtowers project is still in the initial stage. The officials have not identified locations for setting up the towers, that have been entrusted with the task of preventing deaths in the sea, said a senior officer of CSP.
