MARGAO: With just a month to go for the onset of monsoon, storm water drains in many parts of Margao, especially the Aquem-Rawanfond area, are choked with mud excavated during the laying of the underground sewage line.
Citizens as well as the local ward Councillor Avinash Shirodkar have expressed fear that the city may witness flooding if storm water drains are not cleared of the silt on priority.
A visit to Aquem and Rawanfond areas of the city revealed that the storm water drains are indeed chocked with mud and silt. As work on laying the underground sewage line continues in many parts of the city, questions are raised when sewerage department will take up work of de-silting the drains.
Normally, the Margao Municipal Council undertakes de-silting of the major water nullahs every year, raising doubts whether the roadside storm water drains will at all be cleared by the sewerage department or the Civic body this year.
Margao Municipal Councillor Avinash Shirodkar said most of the storm water drains in Aquem and Rawanfond are heavily silted with mud. He has demanded cleaning of the drains before the onset of monsoons.
When Herald contacted PWD Sewerage Assistant engineer, Sheikh, he said the department has chalked out plans to de-silt the storm water drains. “It is the responsibility of the sewerage department to get the drains de-silted and we will take up the work immediately,” he promised.
