PANAJI
With successive monsoon seasons leaving a trail of destruction, particularly due to flooding across the State, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday held discussions with the State Disaster Management Authority to chalk out an advance plan to tackle the fury of the approaching monsoon.
According to Sawant, roles of all departments pertaining to disaster management were discussed as were local contingency plans for mass rescue at sea and monsoon preparedness.
"We cannot stop natural disasters," Sawant said, adding however, that if any does take place, teams will be prompt to restore road communication, besides power and water supply to affected areas within 24 hours.
Over the last four successive years, the monsoon has caused flooding leading to damage to homes, standing crops and power and water lines in many areas across the State.
Sawant said the lessons learnt from these past incidents were taken into account while discussing rescue and restoration of property at Monday's meeting. The administration has tweaked and adjusted strategies taking cues from past experiences, he added.
"Human resource requirements to tackle any situation and to restore damaged properties have been accounted for," Sawant said.
All departments have been issued disaster management related instructions, Sawant said, and also appealed to citizens to download the 'Sachet' national disaster alert app so they can get alerted on impending natural disasters.
Sawant also claimed that overall, the State's machinery is in action mode to tackle the upcoming monsoon season.
He also said desiltation of the Sal and Chapora rivers is completed which will help in preventing flooding.
