Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday announced that workers entering Goa during the monsoon season will be screened, as they are often found to be carriers of malaria. The health department will conduct checks for vector-borne diseases. Sawant emphasized that before renting out premises, blood tests must be compulsory and proper tenant verification should be carried out.
Monsoon Preparedness
The Chief Minister stated that the state machinery is ready for the monsoon, with all pre-monsoon work completed to avoid loss of life. He chaired a meeting of the State Disaster Management at the ministerial block in Porvorim. Sawant revealed that the state government has provided between Rs 35,000 and Rs 1.2 lakh to all urban civic bodies, including the Corporation of the City of Panaji. Municipal bodies have been directed to submit details of monsoon preparedness work undertaken.
Safety Measures and Advisories
Sawant advised fishermen not to venture into the sea during the monsoon. Departments have been instructed to work on accident-prone zones to prevent mishaps. The Chief Minister urged people to avoid swimming in mining pits and laterite stone quarries. Four ambulances have been procured for timely response to accidents on national highways. The state government has partnered with the Navy to provide divers for rescuing people during floods. The Goa State Pollution Control Board and the collector will act in case of oil spills on beaches.
Emergency Response and Relief
The emergency response support system response time has been reduced from 18 minutes to 9 minutes. Around Rs 6 crore has been disbursed to those who faced property loss and other monsoon-related damages. A center has been established at a cost of Rs 38 crore for disaster communication. Sawant announced that the state government will restructure the disaster management authority to work exclusively during the monsoon. All 12 control rooms for disaster management have been activated.
