Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday held a review meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority on monsoon preparedness, where he made a slew of announcements, including a ban on monsoon road cutting, infrastructure audits, additional funds for local bodies, and stronger emergency response mechanisms. The CM highlighted how the emergency response time has been reduced to nine minutes, with efforts being made to bring it down to six. He also spoke of round-the-clock control rooms being activated in all talukas for faster coordination.
The meeting reflected on ways to enhance preparedness and address challenges. And like every other year, it raises fresh hopes that the disaster management will stand up to every disaster that knocks on us during the monsoon. The disheartening part is that past experiences do not inspire confidence because these interventions, although well-intentioned, did very little to tide us over tight situations.
We thought 2025 was going to see a change, because a new set of protocols were introduced. The State solidified its State Disaster Response Force by putting together a 200-personnel team comprising Fire and Emergency Services alongside trained professionals. The personnel underwent training in flood rescue, medical first aid, and urban search. Emergency Operation Centres were set up and made functional 24x7, funding was increased for local bodies, rivers were desilted, dilapidated structures were demarcated, and trees along roads were pruned.
Yet, Goa’s experience in 2025 once again laid bare the fragility of its disaster management system. Disaster management was labelled as a “disaster”. The quick response was patchy, and the year’s repeated crises exposed deeper structural failures that could no longer be ignored. Blocked drainages were standing in the way, and the emergency infrastructure fell woefully short.
At the heart of this failure is a critical issue — rampant and unregulated development. Wetlands and low-lying areas have been steadily reclaimed and filled, crippling natural drainage systems. While the Smart City stood up well, several other areas, even in and around Panaji, saw flooding. The inclusion of community volunteers was a great concept, but in testing times, that did not help either. Delays caused by inadequate manpower and the shortage of heavy machinery slowed rescue and restoration efforts.
What Goa needs now is not merely a stronger emergency response system, but a complete shift in approach. Disaster management cannot remain centred on reaction and recovery alone. Risk reduction must become the priority. Restoring wetlands and protecting natural waterways would go a long way. Public awareness and people’s participation also need to become central to preparedness efforts.
Disaster response agencies continue to struggle. Addressing weaknesses will require sustained investment in manpower and equipment. Technology, too, must play a larger role, whether through real-time monitoring systems, integrated disaster databases, or more effective early warning mechanisms. The State needs to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence in assisting disaster management.
We must learn lessons from past failures. Goa cannot afford to treat disasters as isolated events that demand temporary fixes. By now, we should be fully aware of what’s working and what’s not. We are paying the price for environmental neglect, and nature is teaching us these lessons the hard way. Unless the underlying issues are addressed, stronger response teams alone will not be able to fight these crises. Real resilience will come only through forward-looking governance that protects ecosystems in the best possible way it can.
