The tourism department has invited global tenders for providing lifeguard and safety services along the beaches of Goa.

Its five year contract with lifeguard service provider- M/s Drishti Special Response Services Pvt Ltd, ends in July.

Under the contract, all beaches will be covered including the two hinterland water bodies of Dudhsagar waterfalls and Mayem lake.

Twenty-six people drowned off various beaches of Goa during 2012 whereas the number of deaths in 2011 is slightly less.

The number of lifeguards will be more as more areas will be covered under the new agreement. Also, salaries of lifeguards will be hiked from present 6,500 to 10,500.

Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar had announced in the assembly last week that the tourism department has made efforts to increase the salary component paid to the lifeguards. Also, attempts would be made to recruit women lifeguards.

Past efforts of the government to have women lifeguards proved futile for want of female candidates.

Another addition is that the service provider will have to provide watch services till midnight in addition to regular service up to sunset. The successful bidder will also be required to demarcate the water sports zones and swimming zones with floating buoys of international standards and maintain them on a day-to-day basis.

Demarcation is required to avoid accidents as there have been instances of water sports operators encroaching into swimming zones.

The service provider will be penalized if it fails to provide any of the equipments as listed in the agreement.

This will include items like beach stations at big beaches, jet skis, jet skis trolleys, beach patrol jeep, surf rescue board.

There are varying rates of fines prescribed for each of the items.

The government intends to choose a bidder by the end of May as the contract of Drishti ends in June, 2013