Big blow to Turkey by this small Indian civic body cancels plan to…, made in…

Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani replied in the affirmative when asked if the civic body has scrapped the plan to procure robotic lifebuoys manufactured in Turkey.

The Mumbai civic body has canceled its plan to procure Turkey-manufactured robotic lifebuoys for deployment on six beaches, officials said. The decision comes after growing backlash against Turkey in India over its support for Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.

The remotely-operated rescue machines, designed to assist lifeguards in saving people from drowning, were to be deployed at Girgaum Chowpatty, Shivaji Park Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa and Gorai beaches, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Monday.

Each unit of the machine was equipped with dual water jets, a 10,000 mAh rechargeable battery, and had the capacity to carry up to 200 kg. It could travel 800 metres into the sea at speeds up to 18 km/h and operate for about an hour, as per officials.

The civic body faced strong criticism from political parties for the deal after Turkey extended diplomatic and military support to Islamabad during the last month’s military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Political leaders, including of the ruling BJP and its ally Shiv Sena, had questioned the procurement of the equipment from foreign supplier instead of promoting indigenous alternatives.

Turkey’s open support to Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, triggered broader domestic calls for a boycott of goods made in the Eurasian country.

(With Inputs From PTI)