PANAJI
A well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central Arabian Sea, off the south Konkan coast, has raised alert about the continuation of heavy to very heavy rainfall over Goa besides Gujarat, Konkan, Karnataka and Kerala for the next seven days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall over Konkan and Goa till May 25, with the State on Red Alert during this period. Increasing rainfall is expected till May 29.
The development coincides with the southwest monsoon’s gradual advance, which is forecast to reach Kerala within two days.
Amid the monsoon chaos over the past five days, the North Goa District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) convened a meeting on Friday to assess preparedness for upcoming seasonal hazards and to streamline coordination among various departments and agencies involved in disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
DDMA Chairperson Yashaswini B directed all concerned departments to enhance inter-agency coordination and ensure that essential services remain operational during any emergency.
“Preparedness is the cornerstone of disaster resilience. All agencies must work in close synergy to ensure that our response is swift, effective, and focused on safeguarding lives and livelihoods,” she said.
Yashawini also issued necessary directions to the departments for compliance and directed all the line departments and the stakeholders to ensure a timely response in case of disasters.
“The trimming and cutting of dangerous trees have to be taken on a war footing. The Panchayat and the Municipal Administration are issued directions to take all measures to prevent any flood-like situations in the municipal area or the villages. Directions are also given to agencies not to accumulate the debris or mud in areas of construction sites which will impact the residential areas by blocking drains or nullahs or lead to mud sludge,” she said.
Directions were also issued to the Nodal Officers from the Director of Panchayat, WRD, PWD (Roads), PWD (Water Supply), Department of Electricity that necessary directions need to be issued to the work executing agencies that no debris shall be kept in abeyance after the execution of the works or the necessary measures to be taken to avoid any mishaps with warning signages.
Besides, the Department of Mines was directed to take measures in case of water logging incidents reported in areas of leased mines and non-leased mining areas specifically in Bicholim and Sattari talukas.
