File photo of Bombay high court

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday told the BMC to adopt "modern means" to ensure that beaches in Mumbai are safe. To drive home the point, the judge cited a famous American television series. "Have you not seen Baywatch ? You have to be modern. You don't have to be old century (sic). You have to adopt modern means," said Justice Shantanu Kemkar.

Along with Justice Sarang Kotwal, he was hearing a PIL on the poor condition of beaches in Maharashtra . The HC, in another matter, had directed various beach safety measures in 2006, including watch towers with floodlights and appointment of life guards. The PIL in the latest matter was filed by the NGO Janhit Manch in 2010.

Justice Kemkar's observations followed after the BMC's advocate, Sagar Patil, said each of Mumbai's beaches had a stationary vehicle with a lifeguard. "How do you keep continuous watch?" asked the judge, pointing out that beach patrolling requires a vehicle to be driven rather than remaining at one place.

"Mobile vans and jeeps need to move from one end of the beach to the other with announcements," he said. Justice Kemkar then referred to Goa. "Recently I saw that (in Goa) there is continuous movement (of the jeep) on the beach," he said.

In Goa, authorities are lenient and do not object to people entering the water, but they are watched, he said. "Life is important," the judge added.

