Commissioner cum Secretary (Revenue) and Chairman, State Disaster Management Authority, Shri Sandip Jacques, IAS, reviewed Heatwave and Pre-monsoon preparedness mitigation measures for the proposed State Level mock exercise on Cyclone to be held on April 25, 2025 at Mantralaya, Porvorim, yesterday.
Shri Jacques, IAS emphasized upon the line Department the need for proactive preparation to mitigate the challenges posed by the impending monsoon season. Officials of various Government departments outlined their action plan to tackle any eventuality.
Shri Surendra Naik, Joint Secretary, Revenue welcomed the gathering. Shri Sandeep Gawade, Under Secretary, Revenue gave a presentation on measures to be implemented to mitigate climate related challenges.
Among matters discussed related to heat wave preparedness and mitigation measures were awareness campaigns to educate public on heat wave, prioritize maintaining power supply to critical facilities like hospitals, keeping stock of essential medicines, releasing water in canals during summer, ensuring the availability of drinking water supply and portable drinking water, preventive measures on forest fires, water availability for animals in reserved/protected forests, parks and sanctuaries and making suitable provisions to setting up of drinking water stations and shades in all schools.
Shri Jacques underscored the important to be prepared and proactive to ensure that everybody are available 24X7. He urged all the officials to learn from past experiences of natural disasters and to be more active in those areas which have already been identified in the State.
It was emphasized to develop a policy for power cuts, disseminate heat wave early warnings, raising awareness on heat wave effect on livestock, setting up of special shelters for MGNREGA and construction workers, create awareness on cool roof benefits, create surveillance mechanism on tracking children, lactating mothers and women through Angadwadi centres, conducting preparedness and capacity building programs for community volunteers, NGOs and looking into heat wave preparedness for people living in old age homes and orphanages and special arrangements to ensure proper care of persons with disability.
The meeting also discussed about monsoon preparedness with emphasis on pruning of trees along highways, roads, cutting of hazardous trees, desilting of drains, stocking of basic essential supplies, identification of abandoned mining quarries, safety measures to prevent drowning incidents, identification and removal of weak electrical poles, identification of flood and landslide prone areas and evacuation plan in case of disasters and emergencies, among other issues.
District Collectors of North and South Districts informed that control rooms equipped with adequate infrastructure to handle potential crises have been set up. Shri Jacques instructed the Corporation of the City of Panaji and Imagine Panaji Smart City to take maximum precaution before the monsoon and ensure works are completed on time. Shri Jacques also suggested installing the SACHET mobile App which provides alerts before a possible disaster.
