Authorities told to prioritise drain clearance before June
South Goa district Disaster Management Authority Chairperson Egna Cleetus take stock of monsoon preparedness with officials of line departments.
Photo Credits: The Goan
MARGAO
With the pre-monsoon showers exposing chinks in monsoon preparedness, with large-scale flooding reports across the district, District Collector and Chairperson of the South District Disaster Management Authority, Egna Cleetus, on Friday issued timelines for various agencies and line departments to complete preparedness before the end of the month.
Taking cognisance of the ban imposed on road digging across the district, the Collector told the line departments not to violate the order but to approach her office for permission to extend ongoing works. She said permissions will be issued for extension of the road digging work but warned that her office will take serious note of any violation of the May 15 order.
At a high-level meeting of the line departments, the Collector reviewed the ongoing works undertaken by the departments, including the Municipalities and Panchayats, besides the PWD and Water Resources Departments, as part of monsoon preparedness.
The Collector laid stress on the landslide-prone areas under the jurisdiction of the sub-divisional officers, requesting officials to submit reports on these areas for further action.
Later briefing the media, the Collector said the meeting reviewed the de-silting work undertaken by the Panchayats and Municipalities across the state. She said the meeting also reviewed the progress of work on tree cutting along major roads and highways. “During the meeting, the Panchayats and Municipalities submitted that they are still at work desilting the drains and nullahs. We have issued directions to the Block Development Officers and the Chief Officers to complete the work on priority,” she said.
As far as tree cutting is concerned, officials of the Power Department submitted that they have started the work, with the Collector stating that the PWD has promised to take up the tree cutting work immediately.
On landslide areas, the Collector said the Deputy Collectors have been told to provide a list of areas, adding that instructions have been issued to install pumps for quick drainage of water and to mitigate the crisis.
