Udupi : G. Jagadeesha, Deputy Commissioner, on Friday directed the members of the Malpe Development Committee to appoint five more lifeguards in addition to the existing five on  DC Jagadeesha

He was chairing a meeting of the Malpe Development Committee at the District Offices Complex here.

Mr. Jagadeesha said that safety of the tourists should be given priority. The lifeguards should not only save lives but also discharge duties as ‘green police’ on the beach. They should be trained to respond to any emergency on the beach. These lifeguards should function under the officer of Malpe police station. They should work on the beach for a year, he said.

When the members said that the stage for functions on the beach was small, Mr. Jagadeesha said that the height and width of the stage should be increased. He directed them to take up the work of renovating the stage.

He said the small boats ferrying passengers from Malpe beach to the St. Mary’s Island will be allowed only after studying the safety aspects.

Till fresh tenders were called, the big boats ferrying passengers from the Tourist Jetty at Malpe to the St. Mary’s Island should function under previous terms and conditions, he said.

There were complaints of some facility providers misbehaving with the tourists on the beach. Stern action would be taken against them and their contracts would be cancelled, Mr. Jagadeesha warned.

The issues of construction of toilets, installation of interlock tiles, removal of illegal sheds, parking of vehicles and problems posed by shops also came up for discussion at the meeting.