Cops issue new deadline for anniv security; boat owners complain of losses of Rs 50,000-80,000
Cops issue new deadline for anniv security; boat owners complain of losses of Rs 50,000-80,000u00a0
With 26/11 anniversary around the corner and the memory of how the terrorists arrived by boat, Colaba police have issued a notice to boat owners not to operate their services after sunset. In the notice (the copy of which is with Sunday MiD DAY), cops warn that boat owners found flaunting the deadline norms will have to face stringent action.
u00a0
Post 26/11, ferryboat owners were asked to sail their boats only till 6 pm but the deadline was gradually increased to 10 pm. But on October 12, Colaba police sent the new deadline notice to boat owners.
'It isn't possible!'
"This is absurd, we are facing a huge loss already due to such weird deadlines and now, there's one more deadline. It isn't possible for us to reach the jetty on time. This confusion has affected evening boat parties that would have helped us make some money," said Shashank Maske (name changed), a boat owner from Colaba.
Maske revealed that police had also issued security guidelines (see box) soon after 26/11, but only a few of these were adhered to by boat owners due to financial constraints. "We have already placed security guards, but it isn't possible for us to follow the other guidelines. It is the job of the government. It's as if we need to pay for our own security if we want to survive!" added Maske.
No boat parties
According to a spokesperson of Gateway Elphanta Jal-Vahatuk Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit, with no boat parties post 26/11, business dropped by almost 25 per cent. "For years, we had boat parties and now we no longer have that income," he said.
Colaba policeu00a0in-charge, Inspector Deepak Dhole, confirmed that the notice has been issued. "They need to compulsorily follow the deadline or we could take a stringent action against them," said Dhole.
DCP Zone-I, Vishwas Nagre Patil, grumbled that boat owners were always uncooperative. "We have been constantly asking them to follow the norms, but they are reluctant. We don't have the power to make it mandatory, but time and again, we try to create an alertness," said Patil.
u00a0
Guidelines issued by the Colaba police
>>Installing CCTV cameras at jetties
>>Security men in the boats
>>Photo pass for regular travelers
>>Maintaining records picture, address and work details of regular travelers
>>Frisking bags by personal security guards
>>ID cards of workers
>>Ensuring that traveler going for sight-seeing is back in the boat
What deadline means to ownersLosses due to 6pm deadline and no boat parties: Rs 50,000-80,000 per month
Monthly earning of a boat owner: Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000.
Post 26/11: Approx Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 per month.
Number of boats: There are 93 boats, out of which 73 are luxury and 20 ordinary boats.
