TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Stating that they are prepared to face any emergency, the District Disaster Management Authority North Goa, says it has been coordinating with all the related departments and agencies and are on their toes.
The North Goa disaster related administrative machinery is linked through ‘The North Goa’ group on WhatsApp and share updated information about situations across various corners of the State which includes situation arising out of Cyclone Nilofar.
The brain behind this initiative since recently taking over as North Goa Collector, IAS officer Nila Mohanan said that officials consisting of mamlatdars, joint mamlatdars, deputy collectors, additional collectors and the collector are members on the group.
“We were on alert since Saturday. The entire district administration is seized of the matter. Concerned officers are sharing information and images about crop damage if any, water level, number of people affected and related photos on the WhatsApp group. In this way, we keep ourselves updated about the situation,” she told Herald. Talathis are also playing a crucial role in the entire exercise.
The social media group was created to improve coordination in general and this has proved helpful during the present warning of Cyclone Nilofar on the west coast. This is in addition to communication through official mechanism such as daily reports, and updates from control room situated at North Collectorate office and at all taluka level.
“Our control rooms function 24×7 but we have re-activated and increased intensity of attention till November 15, keeping in mind the warning issued by Meteorological department on the coastline,” she said, adding that the DMA obtains a report every half an hour about the situation and action taken.
As she was quick to assert that Goa is safe from the cyclone, the DMA has specified two talukas – Bicholim and Sattari that are prone to possible landslides and flooding situation. “These two talukas are low lying areas where chances are more for damages as per the department of science and technology,” she added.
In case of crisis, she informed that mamlatdars – in the respective zones – have identified high altitude areas and structures where the affected people could be evacuated and shifted for safety. “There is no reason to panic. There is no such situation (cyclone) anticipated. We are nonetheless ready to face any situation,” she claimed.
The authority has been regularly coordinating with the other concerned departments including police, fire and civil defence.
