At Powai lake, protection from crocodiles: wiring all around, floodlights and lifeguards

Anticipating immersion of over 10,000 this year, the civic body has put safety measures in place. According to R Biradar, assistant municipal commissioner, S Ward, precautions include installation of wire mesh, floodlights, and posting life guards and divers. “We have installed double-layered wire nets covering 100 feet distance at both the spots. The nets are around 10-20 ft deep and strong enough to ensure that no crocodile enters the immersion spots,” Biradar said. Besides, a patrolling boat will survey the lake constantly and warn the control rooms in case of a crocodile sighting, he said.

Ten life guards and seven Navy divers will also be posted at the spot on immersion days. Four hundred flood lights have been installed, an ambulance and two doctors will be on duty and two motor boats will be arranged for emergency, Biradar said. The two major days of visarjan, Friday and Sunday, are expected to see thousands of visitors in Powai.

Several NGOs like the Maharashtra State Angling Association and the Young Environmentalists Group will assist the BMC keep vigil. Baqar Sheikh of the MSAA said, “We have arranged with the Powai Nagrik Seva Mandal to collect all the idols at the bank and take them for immersion into the water. This way, the devotees need not enter the water but leave the lake from the banks itself.” Elsie Gabrial, of the Young Environmentalists group added, “We are already taking rounds at the spot regularly to check safety nets and other measures. On Wednesday, along with the BMC’s hydraulic department, we did an impromptu check to ensure the nets are installed properly.”