Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Goa-IDC) has joined hands with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to develop a comprehensive Multi-Hazard Mapping and Disaster Management Plan for all 24 industrial estates across the state.
As part of the project, a half-day workshop was held at BITS Pilani, bringing together estate managers, Goa-IDC officials and representatives from industrial estate associations to discuss and align on the objectives and roadmap ahead.
Speaking at the workshop, Pravimal Abhishek, Managing Director-Goa-IDC, stated: “The idea for the project emerged in response to concerns raised by industries during one of the IDC-Connect programmes. Several industries highlighted the issue of frequent flooding in their units. That’s when we realised the importance of conducting a proper hazard assessment and planning accordingly”.
He emphasised the importance of sustainable development in Goa, pointing out that although industries occupy less than 2% of the state’s land, they contribute nearly 30% to its economy. “Goa is home to 24 industrial estates, each with its own unique set of challenges. The risks faced by Kundaim are different from those at Verna. This makes estate-specific planning crucial,” he added.
Pranoy Baidya, Head of the Research Division at Arannya Environment Research Organisation (AERO), explained how local biodiversity plays a crucial role in determining hazard vulnerability. “Certain grass species are more prone to catching fire due to their high lignin content, while others are naturally more fire-resistant,” he noted. The study will focus on plateau regions to assess fire risks and recommend preventive strategies such as establishing fire breaks. He added that water management will also be a key focus, particularly in regions experiencing drier conditions.
Dr. Rajiv Kumar Chaturvedi, Associate Professor at BITS Pilani, Goa campus, emphasized that increasing climate variability has made such hazard mapping efforts more urgent. “Our goal is to translate cutting-edge research and climate modelling into practical, actionable strategies,” he said. “By engaging estate managers and industry stakeholders directly, we can ensure that the outcomes are both useful and scalable.”
The launch of the Multi-Hazard Mapping and Disaster Management Plan marks a significant milestone in Goa-IDC’s commitment to building climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable industrial estates across Goa. With the active collaboration of research institutions, environmental experts and industry stakeholders, this initiative sets a precedent for data-driven and estate-specific planning across Goa’s industrial landscape.
