CANACONA
Canacona Deputy Collector Prataprao Gaunkar held a disaster management meeting with heads of various departments to review monsoon preparations.
He instructed officials to complete all pending work without delay and warned that strict action would be taken against those who fail to follow orders.
Present at the meeting were Canacona BDO Savio Carvalho and representatives from the Mamlatdar office, Police (including Traffic and Coastal), Health Department, ADEI, various divisions of PWD (Buildings, PHE, Roads, NH), WRD, Electricity, Fire & Emergency Services, Forest Department, Konkan Railway, CMC, Drishti Lifesavers, and others.
Speaking to the media later, Gaunkar said the meeting was called to assess progress on monsoon preparations discussed in the last meeting. The next review meeting will be held in 15 days.
Gaunkar also said he would submit a proposal to shift the Fire & Emergency Services back to the Civil Supplies Godown opposite Canacona Police Station, to improve coordination with the police.
De-silting of nullahs
Gaunkar said de-silting has been completed in all identified areas, but water-logging near the Agas-Loliem road still needs to be fixed by PWD (Roads).
“The CMC has finished 60% of the de-silting work. Due to a shortage of workers, the rest will be completed in the next 5“10 days,” he said.
He added that instructions have been given to clear the nullah near Ravindra Bhavan. This will also help stop flooding in the nearby house of Gurudas Komarpant.
A joint inspection by the CMC, Electricity Department, and PWD will take place at 3.30 pm on Tuesday to find a permanent solution for proper water flow.
Leaning trees at Karmalghat
Gaunkar also called for a joint inspection by the Forest Department and PWD (NH) to check the number of trees leaning dangerously on the road at Karmalghat.
Parking issues at Dy Collectorate complex
The Deputy Collector said there is not enough parking at the Dy Collectorate complex, leading visitors to park on the roadside. He said the SAG has been approached with a proposal to temporarily allow parking on Shri Gaitonde Grounds, located nearby, for people visiting government offices.
Social worker says he was asked to leave hall
CANACONA: Social worker and Canacona Health Committee member Shankar Naik said he was asked to leave a disaster management review meeting at the Dy. Collectorate complex, Canacona, on Monday.
Naik said when Dy. Collector Prataprao Gaunkar asked for a representative from Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) to provide disaster updates, no one was present. Naik then sought permission to speak about issues like clogged drains and old buildings in the Chaudi area.
When asked if he was municipal staff, Naik said no, but explained he was a concerned citizen wanting to highlight problems to the Taluka Disaster Management Authority chairman. The Dy. Collector then asked him to leave the hall, and Naik complied.
Naik said he regularly attends Disaster Management meetings and his suggestions have been acknowledged by authorities. He also helped during last year’s flooding at the Dy. Collectorate complex and worked with fire services on disaster relief tasks like clearing fallen trees and blocked drains.
Later, the Dy. Collector sent staff to ask Naik to return, but he refused. While Naik waited outside, the CMC Municipal Engineer arrived and the meeting ended soon after.
