PANAJI
The State government has reconstituted committees under the respective District Collectors to investigate the causes of landslides in Goa and recommend restoration measures. Each of the two committees, with a tenure of three months, is chaired by the respective Collector and includes five members, a member secretary, and six educationists from Goa University as its expert members.
An order issued by the Revenue Department states that the committees are required to submit their reports within three months.
“The Government of Goa is pleased to reconstitute committees under the Chairmanship of each District Collector for a three-month period to study the causes of landslides and propose restoration measures for those that have occurred in Goa. The committees are to submit their reports within three months to the Secretary (Revenue)/ Member Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority,” reads the order signed by Under Secretary (Revenue II) Sandeep Gawade.
The committees include the Chief Conservator of Forests, the Principal Chief Engineer (PWD), the Chief Engineer (WRD), Chief Town Planner (TCP), and Director of Agriculture as members, while the Member Secretary of the Biodiversity Board will serve as the Member Secretary.
In its recent report, the committee for North Goa, then headed by former Collector Mamu Hage, indicated that deforestation in Sattari was one of the prime reasons for three landslides. The deforestation allowed water to penetrate the hills, weakening the soil over time, and ultimately triggering the landslides. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant acknowledged the findings and announced the extension of the committee’s tenure to investigate other landslide-prone areas including those not previously identified.
“The focus will be on assessing the stability of villages below these hills where development activities are ongoing. If any risks are identified, such activities will be halted immediately,” he had stated.
The CM also made it clear that construction licenses, if issued, will be revoked if there’s any threat perception as well as new guidelines to ensue for all departments including Revenue, Forest, PWD, TCP and local administrations directing inspection of the areas including no-development zones and eco-sensitive areas to prevent destabilization. “No construction or agriculture can take place if it destabilizes the place,” he was quoted as saying.
