MARGAO
On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), GOACAN has called upon the Municipal councils in Goa to implement measures for Disaster Risk Reduction.
As part of its ongoing awareness drive "Urban October'', GOACAN has written to the Director Urban Development Gurudas Pilarnekar seeking to promote Disaster Risk Reduction among the urban local bodies with a host of suggestions: Request the Chief Officers of all Municipal Councils in Goa to take up Disaster Risk Reduction as an agenda point in the meeting of the Municipal Council every six months and submit the minutes of the same to DMA and DDMA.
A suggestion has been made to request the Municipal Councils to contact the local office of the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) for a list of possible disasters that they foresee to occur in the next 6 months ending March 2022 and the necessary precautions that the Municipal Councils needs to take accordingly. The local office of the DFES may be requested to submit a Status Report of Loss to Life & Property and its financial value for the year 2020-21 for the jurisdiction of the Municipal Council.
It was further suggested that the Municipal Councils be requested to contact the local office of the Public Works Department (PWD) to submit a list of critical infrastructure and basic services that have adequate inbuilt engineering safety as per the SFDRR norms. Priority be given to Schools, Hospitals, Bus Stands, Bridges and Flyovers in jurisdiction of the Municipal Council.
The Municipal Council have been further requested to prepare a list of unsafe/dangerous buildings within its jurisdiction and appropriate notices/signage be displayed for the benefit of road users/pedestrians in the area. A time bound action plan be prepared to address the shifting of the occupants and the demolition of such buildings.
The Municipal Council be requested to enlist the support of the local community for the purpose of Disaster Risk Reduction and prepare a list of NGOs, Community Based Organisations, Consumer Forums, Self Help Groups, Mahila Mandals and SHGs. Special attention be given to Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities for this purpose. The Municipal Council may then organise an appropriate awareness program in the next six months on Disaster Risk Reduction and the role of Citizens.
