Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has expressed concern over increasing drowning incidents while directing the authorities for a solution to avert such casualties, particularly during the monsoon.
While chairing a preparatory meeting of State Disaster Management Authority on monsoon preparedness at Secretariat on Thursday, the Chief Minister also stressed the need to initiate steps to effectively deal with and minimise incidence caused due to disasters.
“Instances of casualties caused due to disasters particularly due to drowning have become a matter of concern and therefore the members of Disaster Management should come out with fruitful suggestions to avoid any eventualities occurring especially during monsoon session,” he said in the meeting, also attended by Minister for Revenue Atanasio Monserrate and Officiating Chief Secretary P S Reddy among others.
Against the backdrop of drowning cases wherein youth are major casualties, the Chief Minister suggested that it was necessary to initiate steps by the concerned department to adopt measures as regard to creating awareness among the masses to protect and save their precious life.
Commending “Apada Mitra” for their efforts in saving life and property caused due to disasters be it cyclone, flooding, landslide, incidence of fire, the Chief Minister further stressed the need to encourage “Apada Mitra” and directed the concerned authorities to ensure more volunteers are registered under the disaster management wherein requisite training will be imparted at taluka level.
Sawant has assured to extend all possible assistance to deal with impending South-West monsoon and to meet any challenges and eventualities that may pose danger.
The CM also directed the authorities to bring the Agriculture Department and Animal Husbandry sectors under the purview of Disaster Management.
