MAPUSA
The Opposition on Monday slammed the State government for failing to take proper flood mitigation measures despite having enough time to take up pre-monsoon works in the State.Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai said several parts of the State experienced floods putting the lives of common man at risk even as the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) appeared to lack the capability of dealing with the situation.
He said it also showed the government’s lack of consideration of climate change while planning mega-infra projects which was only worsening the situation.
“The people in the State have been going through the worst due to the floods, landslides and other incidents due to heavy rains. But instead of coming to the aid of the people, you have been fishing for Opposition MLAs,” Sardessai said, pointing to the chief minister.
The issue was raised during the Calling Attention motion in the House.
Quepem MLA, Altone D’Costa recounted how the railings of a bridge collapsed in Paroda while the whole village remained cut off from the main town due to the floods.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said every year the government goes through the exercise of trimming the trees as part of pre-monsoon works but on several occasions, the deputy collectors fail to carry out the work due to lack of funds.
“The deputy collector who is in charge of looking into the issue of cutting or trimming dangerous trees directs the municipalities or the panchayats to cut/trim the trees. These local bodies have to issue tenders to get the work done but by then the monsoon arrives and the work remains incomplete,” Kamat said.
He suggested the government should come out with some plan of issuing funds or create a cell at the office of the deputy collector to carry out such works to save time.
Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas disclosed how some 20-odd trees considered dangerous in his constituency were identified before the monsoon but the panchayats failed to cut them and a couple of them came crashing down in the rains causing damage to people’s houses.
While responding to the Opposition queries, Revenue Minister Anatasio (Babush) Monserrate said that the SDMA has taken several measures for responding to and mitigating disasters in the State.
He said the SDMA under the Chief Minister had reviewed the works to be done before monsoon and directions were issued to the Collectors, DMA, Directorate of Panchayats, power department, PWD and the WRD to ensure timely completion of the pre-monsoon work which included de-silting of nullahs, gutters, trimming of trees, removal of dangerous buildings etc.
“In the past few days, there have been landslides, incidents of tree falls, water entering into houses and other incidents in various parts of the State and the SDMA has responded promptly to emergency situations all over Goa,” Monserrate said.
He said he will look into the suggestions offered by various MLAs to make changes in the system so that a better and robust response system is put in place to respond to disaster calls.
