Jeep parasailing at Murud beach is illegal: Maharashtra govt

  • | Tuesday | 25th June, 2019

Indicating that tourists who enjoy water sports activities at beaches and sea-shores may be at risk, the state government has admitted that jeep parasailing at Murud beach in Raigad, which claimed the life of a 15-year old, was illegal. Pawar had gone parasailing on the beach with his father, who also sustained serious injuries after they fell 50 feet. Later, the police arrested four people for illegally conducting jeep parasailing activities, and they are out on bail. The reply added that under the Maharashtra Water Sports policy-2015, the MMB has not permitted jeep parasailing. This was 100% illegal… action will be taken against guilty officials," said Yerawar.

Indicating that tourists who enjoy water sports activities at beaches and sea-shores may be at risk, the state government has admitted that jeep parasailing at Murud beach in Raigad, which claimed the life of a 15-year old, was illegal. The state has also promised a probe and action in a month. In May, Vedant Ganesh Pawar (15) from Pune died after the rope attached to his parachute snapped. Pawar had gone parasailing on the beach with his father, who also sustained serious injuries after they fell 50 feet. The parasailing equipment was fastened to one rope, which was tied to a jeep. Later, the police arrested four people for illegally conducting jeep parasailing activities, and they are out on bail. The government's written reply to a calling attention motion by Atul Bhatkhalkar (BJP- Charkop) and others, said that according to a report of the Regional Port Officer (RPO), Raigad, no permissions for parasailing were given by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). The reply added that under the Maharashtra Water Sports policy-2015, the MMB has not permitted jeep parasailing. Bhatkhalkar sought action against the guilty. Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar (NCP- Baramati) said police and revenue officials were responsible for taking bribes and allowing these illegal activities to flourish. This led to the deaths of innocents, Pawar charged, demanding that those guilty be booked for murder. Dr Sunil Deshmukh (BJP- Amravati) said despite this mishap, such illegal water sports activities were being conducted on other beaches and Manisha Choudhary (BJP- Dahisar) sought a safety audit of these facilities. In the state legislative assembly, minister of state for tourism Madan Yerawar reiterated that parasailing on the sand using jeeps were not permitted. He added that responsibility would be fixed on those guilty and action would be taken. This would be done in a month. Yerawar said there was a committee for approving water sports activities under the district collector, which included representatives, including those from the MMB. He added that in the future, they would take care to ensure that no such mishap took place. "No permissions were given to this sport. This was 100% illegal… action will be taken against guilty officials," said Yerawar. Deputy speaker Vijay Auti too asked the state government to look into the issue "seriously." The MMB has jurisdiction over 13 water sports sites in Raigad, two in Thane, eight beaches in Ratnagiri and Malvan in Sindhudurg. According to the state tourism department's norms framed in 2014, rules and guidelines have been framed for adventure sports activities like trekking, mountaineering, skiing, snowboards and water sports. Trigger

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