After mock drill on cyclones, nat’l authority says scope to improve Goa’s disaster readiness

Panaji: Goa can improve upon and enhance the level of preparedness for all notified disasters, the national disaster management authority (NDMA) said after overseeing the state-level mock drill on cyclones. NDMA has identified certain areas and standard operating procedures that the Goa state disaster management authority (SDMA) can improve upon, particularly ahead of the monsoon.
NDMA consultant Brigadier Birender Thakar debriefed the state authority where he also took stock of the challenges faced by various rescue teams.
“Brig. Thakar was confident about the areas that the state can improve upon for enhancing the level of disaster preparedness for all the disasters that the state has notified,” said the state government in a statement after the debriefing.
Under secretary for revenue Sapna Bandodkar said that Goa “is progressing in building the capacity” while joint secretary revenue Surendra Naik said that the Goa government is committed to having the best possible disaster risk reduction strategies in place for a “disaster-resilient Goa”.
For the first time a state-level mock drill was conducted in Goa at a large scale involving departments at the national, state and district level. SDMA in collaboration with NDMA conducted the drill in both north and south districts on March 3 simulating a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ that makes landfall at Aivao beach and Colva beach.
To monitor the best practices and lessons from the exercise, 12 observers each were nominated from NDRF, CISF, CRPF, Coast Guard, Army, Navy and Goa Police.