The focus has suddenly shifted to monsoon preparedness and disaster management days after a peck from the Opposition. Earlier this week Chief Minister Pramod Sawant released a detailed plan for disaster management and explained how the Goa State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) maintains a comprehensive repository of resources and runs regular capacity-building training programmes to sharpen the skills of first responders.
He explained how various institutions and teams are engaged in the disaster management plan and are ready to act. Sawant’s explanation came quickly on the heels of Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao demanding a white paper on disaster management slamming the SDMA for being ill-equipped to handle disasters.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the CM admitted that the smart city works did not go as per plan and roped in Sanjit Rodrigues to oversee completion while asking all contractors to work in three shifts to finish the work before June 15.
As the State heads into the monsoon, a sense of awakening seems to have dawned on authorities. It was a little while ago that assurances were given that all works in Panaji will be completed before the onset of monsoon. There appears to be an error of judgement, now that the CM is pushing for a triple shift of work and an extension of the deadline that is very close to the monsoon season and out of the capital city’s comfort zone.
After sluggish and haphazard digging and re-digging of roads, and against the common belief that works will extend beyond monsoon, very little was done to expedite matters. Right now most of the drains are open and incomplete and it would be a chaotic race against time if the city is to be ready, up and running before the monsoon. The panic is showing as within hours of the CM’s announcement, another truck took the plunge at St Inez.
In fact, this urgency should have been shown in March so that there was time to put matters in place. Panaji has witnessed some of its worst flooding in recent times. The past few monsoons have resulted in a deluge with roads submerged and normal lives hit very badly, and that itself should have been enough reason to prioritise work.
Sawant has spoken about an elaborate plan for disaster management contrary to the claims made on paper. A reply in the Legislative Assembly on the disaster management plan and State’s preparedness exposed how it all boils down to a disastrous plan with no trained staff and necessary equipment. While every monsoon leaves a trail of destruction and flooding it is mainly the fire brigade and the electricity department that have been brave warriors on the ground. The recent fire at the Pilerne industrial estate once again highlights the fact that disaster management teams are virtually non-responsive to emergencies.
While Panaji is walking a tightrope trying desperately to catch up with the monsoon deadline, the CM must activate the SDMA and put it to the test in the capital city. There have to be mock drills keeping in mind the situation that could be the worst ever that Panaji has faced. All assurances about preparedness are empty talk.
