Margao civic body to set up disaster management cell

Margao: Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to set up its own disaster management cell which will be tasked with responding to emergency calls from the public, particularly during the monsoon.
MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar told reporters that the disaster management unit consisting of 8 to 10 members will be equipped with resources to handle emergency situations and even carry out relief operations until professional help arrives.
Shirodkar said that the council has learnt from the hardships people faced in the past during monsoon and initiated all pre-monsoon works, including desilting drains, trimming trees and carrying out cleanliness across all wards. Shirodkar said that MMC has completed tendering pre-monsoon works well ahead of the rain, adding that citizens faced hardships due to the failure of the municipality in carrying out timely pre-monsoon works.
“Previously pre-monsoon works of Margao municipality would start well after the onset of monsoon,” Shirodkar said. “Now with the setting up of a disaster management cell, people affected by any emergency situation during monsoon will be able to seek immediate help from the municipality,” Shirodkar said.
The MMC chairperson also urged people to cooperate with MMC’s pre-monsoon works. He said each contractor has been allotted three wards to complete desilting of drains. MMC’s pre-monsoon works have always invited criticism from the public for the inefficient manner in which the works are carried out.