MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
After the announcement of the poll dates on March 16, by the Election Commission of India (ECI), all the administrative and governance came to a near standstill due to the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). But now with the polling for both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa completed, the attention can be refocused on the administration and governance of the State. The first and foremost priority of the State government should be to undertake on a war footing the pre-monsoon works that have been delayed due to the MCC.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the arrival of pre-monsoon showers in the coming week, while monsoon sets in from the first week of June. The IMD chief on April 15, announced that India is likely to experience above-normal cumulative rainfall this year. While on the other hand, climate scientists have opined that the number of rainy days is declining while heavy rain events are increasing leading to frequent droughts and floods.
Goa experienced a delayed monsoon last year, however, sudden heavy showers in July not only covered up the deficit for June but also wreaked havoc with flooding and landslides at various places across the State. The first two days of July received heavy to very heavy rain which led to flooding in several parts along with incidence of waterlogging, trees falling and power outages. The State recorded nearly 60 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, with the hinterland areas recording the maximum downpour. While the emergency services were on their toes to attend to distress calls, the State machinery was in for a rude shock and exposed their shortcomings in carrying out the pre-monsoon works.
The pre-monsoon works by and large are the most essential and prominent works undertaken by the local self-governing bodies - the panchayats and the municipalities. Those panch members and councillors who took their duties seriously and carried out the pre-monsoon work with responsibility have ensured that between June and November, their wards did not suffer even during a heavy downpour. A common complaint every year is the shortfall of labour to carry out the works in time; so given that a major part of the time has already lapsed, the panchayats and municipalities have less than three weeks to ensure that they are monsoon-ready.
Apart from the panchayats and municipalities, the State government has a huge role to play. The forecast of climate change scientists that sudden and very heavy rainfall will be experienced within short spans, the State machinery should be prepared to handle any eventuality. Emergency shelters should be identified and notified to the citizens. Also a safety audit of not just public properties but also the concerns of citizens should be addressed during this pre-monsoon work. The Electricity Department should ensure all the maintenance works are carried out in time to avoid any major damage to transformers or electricity lines during the monsoon. Trees that pose a danger to electricity poles and overhead cables should be pruned and if needed cut down to avoid any untoward incidents that occur during cyclonic winds. The power department has become the center of attention for failing to provide safety equipment to its staff during the monsoon. If not done yet, the Electricity Department has just three weeks to ensure the safety of its linemen who will be putting their lives at risk in service of the State.
June is also the month for the reopening of schools. The government provides textbooks and raincoats to primary school students, however, it has been noticed and even discussed in the Legislative Assembly that the textbooks and the raincoats arrive almost after the middle of the monsoon, and by then the students have almost attended three months of schooling and the monsoon begins to recede.
During the monsoon, the focal point has always been the capital city of Panjim which has never failed to be inundated during a spell of heavy showers. The Imagine Smart City Panaji Development Corporation Limited (ISCPDL) has assured the High Court that all the works of the Smart City will be completed by the end of May. As can be observed, a lot of works are still in the pipeline and the city seems falling short of time to complete the works within the stipulated time. Drainages are being constructed, sewerage lines are being laid out, roads are still being dug and therefore the question remains whether the city will be ready for the monsoon this year. The sudden unseasonal showers in April exposed the unpreparedness of the city due to the ongoing work. The city’s residents as well as those who visit Panjim have suffered for more than half a decade in the name of making the capital a Smart City.
There is no doubt that some of the politicians will still be busy in the Lok Sabha elections outside the State campaigning for their parties, but governance needs to take precedence and works that have a lasting effect on the daily life of the citizens need the focal attention of the public representatives as well as the bureaucracy before they all once again focus on the big counting day of June 4.
