Goemkarponn Desk
PORVORIM: Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte today informed the House that State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is fully prepared for any eventuality.
“Goa State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is fully prepared for any eventuality. In landslide atlas North and South Goa Districts of the State at 111th and121st ranks respectively regarding the exposure to landslides among the 147 landslide prone districts of the country,” said Monserratte
The calling attention was raised by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao MLA Viresh Borkar and MLA Ganesh Gaonkar on effects of unplanned development in sensitive areas.
He further said that significant causes of landslides are heavy rainfall, steep slopes and certain landforms like cliffs and valley sides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
“As per the information provided by Town and Country Planning Department, no development is otherwise permitted in ecologically sensitive areas such as hilly regions having slopes more than 25 %, low lying paddy fields, khazan lands, forest lands, mangroves etc,” he added
Babush said that whenever any infrastructure development requires to be taken up through these areas, the same has to be taken up only after obtaining necessary approvals from concerned Authorities, which are capable of assessing the pros n cons.
“Necessary permissions are to be obtained for hill cutting or filling of low lying land, wherein sufficient measures are taken to do the same in systematic manner. For road infrastructure or other infrastructure development projects etc, necessary alignment / site planning is to finalized so as not to affect such ecologically sensitive areas,” he added
The Minister also said that both the Collectors are empowered to take action against illegal hill cuttings under Section 33 of the Goa Land Revenue Code which provides the Collector with broad powers to manage land issues, including taking necessary actions to prevent and rectify illegal activities such as hill cutting, ensuring that land use complies with legal and environmental regulations.
Government has identified and mapped the landslide prone areas in both North and South Goa Districts and same have been incorporated in the State and District Disaster Management Plans.
“In case of emergencies Government has constructed 11 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters (MPCS) 04 in North Goa and 07 in South Goa with all basic facilities for providing temporary accommodation to the disaster affected victims whenever required,” Babush said
Additionally, Minister informed that Government has identified 259 schools and 132 community halls as emergency centres in both North and South districts with all basic facilities.