Canacona taluka is a den for numerous disasters to occur, more so of the manmade nature. The failure to prune trees and cut down mature ones is a major problem for residents as the trees can fall on houses and damage property without warning. There is a large amount of stagnation of water due to the clogging of drains as well. This causes mosquitoes to breed in the area which in turn leads to numerous diseases and ailments. Vehicles carrying fish also need to be kept in check as the oily water that leaks from them lead to road accidents especially among two wheeler riders. Additionally, the absence of proper rain water harvesting in the area and absence of storm drains to contain flooding rampages the environment during a cloud burst.
Another huge matter of concern is the overgrowth of mangroves in the stream and river bed especially for people living on the banks. These mangroves block the smooth passage of water and the garbage discarded upstream clogs up the system.
There are stringent laws in place for cutting of mangrove trees and those found violating these laws are penalized. Landslides are another issue plaguing the area and this can be attributed to rampant hill cutting. Soil dislodges and becomes lose as a result of this hill cutting. During the monsoons, boulders, trees and stones come tumbling down and destroy property and the government is forced to pay the claimants towards loss of property.
The Disaster Management Committee in Canacona is led by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Chandrakant Shetkar. He is assisted by the mamlatdar, health department, PWD, fire brigade, police and taluka administration departments. Sources at the SDM’s office told Herald that he holds regular meetings at his office with all concerned officials and takes stock of the situation before directing those concerned to take remedial measures. He even makes visits at odd hours.
Government servants are placed around the clock at the mamlatdar’s office to look into any complaints with regard to any disaster. They are available on phone number 2643329, police – 263357, fire station – 263331 and they are guided to convey the same to the SDM immediately.
This year, even though the rainfall received by the state was much less than in previous years, many cases of uprooting of trees, falling of boulders from hillocks on to houses etc were reported. The disaster wing in Canacona reached out effectively to the people in distress.
Then mamlatdar of Canacona, Vinayak Volvoikar pointed out that the Disaster Management Act is not applicable only during the monsoons but all throughout the year. He directed all government servants to be in station and within jurisdiction. At present, however, they have thrown caution to the wind as many government servants are seen residing well away from that taluka jurisdiction.
