MAPUSA
In response to the recent landslide disaster in Wayanad district of Kerala, Goa’s Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte assured the Goa Legislative Assembly on Thursday that the state is well-prepared for similar emergencies.
Monserratte described the Wayanad landslide as “unfortunate” and emphasized that the Goa State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is equipped to handle such situations.
Monserratte revealed that the Landslide Atlas of India, compiled by the National Remote Sensing Centre and ISRO, ranks North Goa and South Goa at 111th and 121st, respectively, out of 147 landslide-prone districts in the country. This ranking underscores the comparatively lower risk of landslides in Goa compared to other regions.
The Minister was responding to a calling attention motion raised by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLA Viresh Borkar, and MLA Ganesh Gaonkar.
The motion highlighted concerns over the impacts of unplanned and excessive development in ecologically sensitive areas, particularly in Dharbandora and the Western Ghats, which are prone to landslides.
Monserratte attributed landslides to factors such as heavy rainfall, steep slopes, certain landforms like cliffs and valley sides, as well as earthquakes and volcanic activity.
He assured the House that development in ecologically sensitive areas is strictly regulated. “No development is permitted in areas with slopes greater than 25 per cent, low-lying paddy fields, khazan lands, forest lands, and mangroves,” he stated.
The Minister noted that any infrastructure development in these sensitive areas requires approvals from relevant authorities who assess the potential impacts. This includes obtaining necessary permissions for hill cutting or land-filling, with measures in place to ensure such activities are conducted systematically. He also mentioned that road infrastructure and other projects must be carefully planned to avoid adverse effects on these areas.
Monserratte explained that the Collectors have broad powers under Section 33 of the Goa Land Revenue Code to address illegal hill-cutting and other land management issues, ensuring compliance with legal and environmental regulations.
To bolster disaster preparedness, the government has mapped landslide-prone areas and integrated them into State and District Disaster Management Plans. Additionally, 11 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters (MPCS) have been constructed ” four in North Goa and seven in South Goa ” to provide temporary accommodation during emergencies. The government has also designated 259 schools and 132 community halls as emergency centres equipped with basic facilities to support disaster-affected individuals.
