Margao: To handle emergency situations during monsoon-related calamities, the Margao municipality has stepped up preparedness by deploying ward-wise teams comprising workers, vehicles and supervisory staff to respond to distress calls. The teams have been tasked with carrying out desilting of drains, removal of silt and garbage, bush-clearing and other monsoon-related works within its jurisdiction as and when the need arises, municipality officials said.To ensure round-the-clock functioning of the teams, municipal engineers, sanitation inspectors, supervisors, workers and drivers have been put on rotational duty on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays as well, specifically to handle emergency situations such as waterlogging, flooding, drain overflow, blockage of rainwater flow and falling trees.Supervisory and engineering staff have been directed to remain available during duty hours and respond promptly to urgent calls by coordinating with the sanitation, vehicle and field departments. The vehicle department has also been instructed to keep all emergency vehicles fuelled and in running condition at all times.A disaster management unit of 8 to 10 members has been equipped with resources to handle emergency situations and carry out relief operations until professional help arrives, municipal sources said.The Margao Municipal Council appealed to citizens, shopkeepers, commercial establishments and other stakeholders to cooperate with municipal field staff and refrain from dumping garbage, construction waste or plastic into drains, nullahs or public places, warning that such dumping obstructs rainwater flow and leads to flooding.
