The State of Goa is popularly known to wholeheartedly welcome the monsoons each year. With multiple tourists and visitors flocking to Goa to soak in the rain, what also has to be kept in the mind is that the monsoons bring with it, multiple unforeseen contingencies ‘ala’ the cyclones, floods, landslides, health problems such as increased mosquito breeding leading to outbreaks of malaria, dengue, and so on.
With the onset of the monsoons, our State faces various issues every year, whether it is the flooding, power cuts, or the pitiable condition of roads leading to higher number of casualties or just general difficulties of commutation, the State is expected to have a Monsoon Preparedness Strategy in place beginning with a revamped disaster management plan, at the very top of the list of priorities.
Currently, Goa has been fairly consistently witnessing mild to moderate showers, although there was a significant delay in the onset of the actual monsoon, this season.
With the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) already issuing warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Goa over the next few days, the State has announced the closure of its beaches for swimming and ancillary activities. And rightly so.
Keeping in mind, the ever-increasing episodes of ‘death by drowning’ in the State, with youth generally succumbing, Drishti Marine, which happens to be Goa’s lifeguarding agency, has issued a statement giving its people a direct ‘heads up’ on the perilous nature of the State’s hilly areas, besides its shorelines which have to be avoided under all circumstances during this season, as they are hit by high intensity waves which could easily claim lives.
The Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant, who recently chaired a preparatory meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority, insisted on the need to initiate steps by the concerned Government departments to create awareness among the masses with the sole aim of saving precious lives.
Besides, the State has been no stranger to the calamities that incessant rain could bring along. Humongous trees are knocked down, people remain stranded at multiple locations and the water-filled potholes cause limitless accidents thereby raising a serious alarm for the State to take necessary action.
At this point, here are a few suggestive measures that could be implemented in order to tackle the monsoon showers.
• The State Disaster Management Authorities need to formulate rescue teams to spring into action as soon as there is a situation demanding their intervention.
• The Public Works Department of the State has to put in place, an improved system for management of drainage, tarring of roads, strengthening electrification lines that provide power supply to its people.
• Appropriate directions have to be given to all the requisite Government departments highlighting their responsibilities in the face of catastrophes.
• Identification of locations as Shelter Homes in case of emergency evacuation is a must.
• Inspection of disaster-prone areas and taking necessary steps to prevent them.
• State level officials such as the Mamlatdars, Collectors, Additional Collectors, Deputy Collectors, Sub Divisional Magistrates and others need to ensure availability of adequate stock of essential commodities with the State that could be utilised in case of emergencies.
• Overall improvement in infrastructural development with the objective of disaster prevention, for instance, government machinery in the form of health centres have to be well-equipped to deal with medical emergencies.
• Heightened efforts on part of the State and its functionaries to mitigate loss of lives through well-crafted action plans at the local, district as well as State level alongside community involvement.
• Setting up of control rooms, warning systems and emergency helplines as a coordinated approach for disaster response.
• The key to effective disaster management lies in the formation of synergies at the State level that promote operative harmonisation among its bodies.
Considering that the onset of strong monsoon winds and incessant rain showers is an annual happening in the State, attempts have to be made to adopt a relief-centric approach that indicates the creation of a triumphant strategy to tackle the magnanimity of monsoon-related calamities. That apart, there is an immediate need for capacity building and putting in place, response reflexes to ensure round the clock monsoon preparedness throughout the season.
