Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), North Goa, has issued a heat wave advisory ahead of rising temperatures expected between March and May, directing all departments to implement preventive and preparedness measures.
Collector and Chairperson of DDMA North Goa, Ankit Yadav, stated that departments including Panchayats and Municipal Administration must install colour-coded display boards indicating heat alerts and widely publicise do’s and don’ts. Authorities have also been instructed to identify vulnerable hotspots and ensure availability of potable drinking water in villages, towns and slum areas.
The Directorate of Health Services and Women and Child Development have been directed to ensure adequate stock of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), drinking water facilities at health centres and anganwadis, and deploy additional staff to manage sunstroke cases. Hospitals and PHCs have also been asked to activate emergency services and maintain sufficient IV fluids.
Public Works Department has been instructed to set up drinking water kiosks at public places, reschedule working hours for construction workers, and carry out regular water sprinkling on roads. The Electricity Department has been asked to ensure uninterrupted power supply to critical facilities and avoid load shedding during peak heat hours.
Departments including Labour, Industries and Fire & Emergency Services have been directed to conduct awareness campaigns for workers and ensure drinking water facilities at industrial and construction sites. Transport authorities have been instructed to provide shelters and drinking water at bus stands and inside buses on major routes.
Police personnel on outdoor duty, especially traffic police, are to be provided with shade and protective arrangements. The Forest Department has been asked to maintain water sources for wildlife and prevent forest fires, while the IT Department will prepare a dashboard and send bulk SMS alerts to monitor heat wave conditions.
The Department of Information and Publicity has been tasked with spreading awareness through media campaigns and encouraging community participation by setting up drinking water and buttermilk kiosks during heat wave conditions.
