Cyclone Tauktae wrecked havoc on Goa causing massive destruction to property and bringing the common man to his knees. Houses have been damaged, plantations destroyed, roads flooded, networks have only added to the pain the common man is undergoing due to a severe Covid attack.
This is double-whammy. To make matters worse, the State has been caught on the wrong foot because all its energies have been devoted to fighting the invisible enemy, and little attention went towards pre-monsoon preparedness or disaster management.
At this point, it makes little sense in shifting the blame on to the government because historically efforts to minimize damage caused by storms and cyclones have failed, and so has all the ambitious disaster management plans put on paper.
While Goans battle the onslaught of both the virus and the aftermath of the cyclone, the government will now have a challenging job at hand. A belated effort is being made to contain the infection and save those infected by Covid, but Tauktae has inflicted further pain shifting the onus on the government to rethink support systems. Houses have been damaged, cashew crops and vegetable plantations have been destroyed. The thin thread of living which people were holding on, has been snapped and livelihoods of people have shattered at a time when their struggle was showing. The government will have to take stock of the destruction Tauktae has caused and make sincere efforts to provide support.
Historically, the BJP-led government since 2012 has dragged its feet when it comes to compensation to those affected by natural calamities. Lest we forget, coastal shacks which faced the brunt of the severe cyclonic storm of Ockhi in December 2017 were left struggling after they suffered major damage to property and crumbled. Availing the promised compensation was a nightmare.
Let’s not forget the August 2019 flooding that destroyed almost 80 per cent of paddy crops with farmers from Bicholim, Bardez and Pernem being the worst affected. Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar had estimated the loss at Rs 10 crore. A meagrely compensation started trickling only in 2020 and till date there are many who have to go without any support.
The government will play a crucial role in getting the State back on its feet. To Goa’s advantage, the central grant of Rs 300 crore to ‘celebrate’ Goa’s 60th Liberation Year could come in handy, because we are in no position to celebrate this year. On the contrary, we are in a dilemma to survive the 60th Liberation Year. Using the fund to help the common man to get back on his feet in these gruelling times would be the biggest celebration for the State of Goa. Saves lives and livelihoods.
