The drainage systems were not in place and drains that were built were clogged or real estate sharks had built over them, blocking water from escaping. And it was just waiting for the right circumstances. What then happened was inevitable.
Goa being a coastal state has its infrastructure dangerously exposed, as climate change is inevitable and seas keep rising. Why Goa alone, for that matter every coastal state in India is in danger of floods. We do not know when the next disaster will occur, but we do know that natural catastrophes like earthquake, floods, drought etc are on the rise. And we need to be prepared.
Can the coastal cities in Goa survive, God forbid if a flood like what happened in Chennai takes place. The answer is No. Why, because cities like Panjim, Mapusa, Margao, Vasco are expanding without any urban planning and builders have been building without planning for a disaster. Individuals are selling fields, which happen to be the artery of the state, when in times of calamities like floods will bail its cities out.
Take for example Taleigao. If a cloud burst happens or in case of a flood, it is the fields in Caranzalem and Taleigao that will save Panjim from the flooding. People in Chennai who bought apartments in low lying areas or building that were built on fields are suffering as those fields were actually collection points of water. Goa too has lost its water catchments and small lakes as builders fill them up for construction projects.
Those on the Kadamba plateau may think they are safe. But then continuous rains will cause landslides like what happened in Jammu and Kashmir. Due to unprecedented construction and cutting of trees on the hills the soil is loose, so a landslide is inevitable. But, who cares. Not my problem is our attitude. Buyers be warned, better double up your home insurance cover. But then insurance companies you do know give the Hand of God (that is any natural disaster) a skip. Just a warning. And for those who have bought apartments built on fields… pray you live on the fifth or the eight floor for you may just be spared.
Goa is blessed with a hilly terrain and a great drainage system that the Portuguese left us with. Water can easily be evacuated. But with no check on construction projects by the government there is no scope for the let-off in the event of a disaster. Vulnerable pockets will have to bear the brunt. Ä reputed environmental magazine states that, “In the past decade alone, India witnessed numerous incidents of floods in Mumbai (nine times), Ahmedabad (seven), Chennai (six), Hyderabad (five), Kolkata (five), Bengaluru (four) and Surat (thrice)”.
The drains in the city too have not been spared. St Inez creek which runs from Nagali Taleigao to Old GMC complex has been neglected and its de-silting pending for years. Sewage is being pumped into the creek, which is actually a drainage basin meant for storm water. Government officials and a leading hotel deny it. Walk past the creek at 6 or 7 in the morning where its mouth meets the Mandovi and you will be hit by a foul stench emitting. The small drainage channels in the city too have been blocked. These nallahs that connect to the river have been encroached on. There is no way in case of a flooding that water can flow out of the city.
Sewage is being dumped in fields, water bodies and wetlands. But these fields, wetlands, water bodies act as natural sponges during floods. When sewage is dumped in them they loose their potential to suck water. Thus leaving cities prone to flooding. In addition unplanned urbanisation and construction on these water bodies and fields leaving us further vulnerable.
All this leads us back to politics. There is a lot of political incentive to fund new projects as it is where the money to fill ones pockets will come from. There is less incentive to be responsible caretakers of things already built. Politicians can say that what is destroyed can be built back better. From past data we learn that re-building is not easy and takes years. Politicians have to realise that in case of a disaster it is entire generations of people that are affected.
The government needs to know, when a builder submits his projects for clearances how his project will be affected in case of a disaster, what are the checks he has put in place. An independent body needs to look into all this. Stringent laws need to be put in place and in case of them not being followed builders should be punished and licenses revoked. We are talking about thousands of lives here. Realtors have to projects planned in such a way where in times of disasters residents have access to essential goods and services—food , electricity, telecommunications and transportation.
The lifelines of our cities should not be sold to feed the greed of politicians and the real estate mafia. How we are going to do it, we need to figure it out. One thing is for sure, Goa is far from ready for any natural disaster. We need to Be prepared and we need to Be safe.
(Vito Gomes is Managing Director Aviation Travel & Tourism Services)
