The robotic lifebuoys, remotely-operated rescue machines designed to assist lifeguards in saving people from drowning, were to be deployed at the Girgaum Chowpatty, Shivaji Park Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa and Gorai beaches in Mumbai, the BMC said.
India Turkey relations: In another major move to punish Turkey for supporting Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has cancelled a major deal to to procure robotic lifebuoys from a Turkish robotics firm. Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani Monday said the Mumbai civic body has scrapped its plan to procure robotic lifebuoys manufactured in Turkey.
The robotic lifebuoys, remotely-operated rescue machines designed to assist lifeguards in saving people from drowning, were to be deployed at the Girgaum Chowpatty, Shivaji Park Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa and Gorai beaches in Mumbai, the BMC said, according to news agency PTI.
Equipped with dual water jets powered by a 10,000 mAh rechargeable battery, each robotic lifebuoy unit had the load capacity of up to 200 kg, and could travel 800 metres into the sea at speeds up to 18 km/h and operate for about an hour, according to details.
The BMC faced sharp criticism from politicians, including from the ruling BJP and its ally Shiv Sena, for its plan to buy these automated lifebuoys from Turkey in the wake of Ankara extended diplomatic and military support to Islamabad during last month’s India-Pakistan military clash.
Political leaders raised questions about why the civic body was procuring equipment from a foreign supplier instead of promoting indigenous alternatives.
Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China, were the only country that openly supported Pakistan in its recent military confrontation with India which escalated after Indian armed forces conducted Operation Sindoor– a series of precision strikes on terrorist infrastructures inside Pakistan– to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Following Turkey’s open support to Pakistan, India took a slew of measures to downgrade ties with Eurasian country, including cancelling major business deals with Turkish firms.
(With inputs from agencies)
