CANACONA
While authorities in Canacona have begun to clear obstructions, restore essential services like power supply and assess damages caused by Cyclone Tauktae, rains have continued to hinder the restoration works in the taluka.
Canacona Mamlatdar Vimod Dalal said 25 claims have already been received for damages to houses and fresh applications will be accepted by Wednesday.
According to Canacona Zonal Agriculture Officer Kirtiraj Naikgaunkar, about 15 hectares of horticulture, which includes sugarcane, coconut, areca nut and banana have been destroyed in Canacona.
“The affected areas are in Loliem-Polem and Canacona municipality. The famous chilli crop was also affected in Khola. Luckily this time, there was not much loss in Khotigao and Gaondingirim and moreover, there was no damage to paddy as the paddy had already been timely harvested,” said Naikgaunkar.
According to Directorate of Agriculture, the losses suffered by farmers due to Cyclone Tauktae will be compensated under the Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi Scheme through the National Disaster Management Fund to be released by the central government.
The Canacona Fire Services have been working overtime to clear the fallen trees in different parts of the taluka.
Between Sunday and Tuesday, the firefighters had attended to 60 calls all over the taluka and most of them pertained to clearing fallen trees and removing debris from damaged houses.
“We still have over 30 calls to attend and they will be taken up on Wednesday morning. In most cases, works which needed urgent assistance were attended first, but we are still receiving many calls,” said a source at the fire station.
While several structures have been damaged, the Government High School at Gaval-Khola, suffered damages to its laboratory, computer room, headmistress cabin and some classrooms.
Meanwhile, many of the affected tourism stakeholders are working to salvage their property after their structures were either destroyed or badly damaged by the cyclone along the Canacona coast.
