Team Goemkarponn
Vasco: In a landmark initiative, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has insured the upcoming Damodar Saptah fair for ₹20.25 crore, becoming the first civic body in Goa to provide insurance coverage for a festival within its jurisdiction.
MMC Chairperson Girish Borker, known for his out-of-the-box initiatives, said the decision was taken as a safety measure, especially in light of recent tragedies like the stampede during the Lairai Jatra.
“We have seen that some devotees lost their lives due to a stampede at the Lairai Jatra. Our annual Damodar Saptah draws huge crowds from across Goa and other parts of the country. As a precautionary measure, we decided to take an insurance cover of ₹20 crore for the seven-day festival,” Borker told the media.
He added, “This is the first time in the 125-year history of Damodar Saptah — and in Goa — that a civic body has opted for festival insurance. The coverage includes the entire stretch of Swatantra Path and St Joseph Vaz Road, from Hiralal Junction to National Pharmacy on Swatantra Path, and from Apna Bazar to Dreamland on St Joseph Vaz Road, where the stalls are set up.”
Borker further informed that an additional fire insurance worth ₹25 lakh has been taken for the designated food court area. “We have set up a food court in the garden to shift the kitchens of the eateries there. Since food preparation is involved and fire risks are present, we have insured the food court as well,” he said.
Echoing Borker’s statement, MMC Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik said, “Perhaps for the first time in Goa’s history, a public liability insurance policy of ₹20 crore has been taken for the entire duration of the Damodar Saptah by the Mormugao Municipal Council.”
The MMC’s proactive step is being hailed as a model for other civic bodies in the state to follow in ensuring the safety of large public gatherings.
