This year the state of Goa has witnessed flooding probably like never before. Roads and fields were inundated, land-slides were reported, crops were damaged, trees got uprooted, Goa has seen it all. Even at the beginning of the monsoon a few hours of heavy shower, and several places in the State were inundated with rain water. Flooding of roads along the highway could be attributed to the construction work of bridges, approach roads, flyovers, etc, being carried which is because of poor planning by the authorities.
When there is flooding in the cities and villages, citizens are quick to blame the civic authorities and panchayats for not carrying out pre-monsoon work of clearing the drains. But then, we citizens are equally responsible for the flooding that is seen in the cities and the villages. The irresponsible way in which we dispose off the waste we generate on a daily basis is the prime reason for the drains being clogged. Plastic waste, which include plastic bottles, plastic wrappers, plastic bags, etc, are thrown in water bodies and open spaces which ultimately finds its way into the drains thereby clogging it leading to flooding of roads.
In the past when the drains were cleaned by the authorities, one could see only muck being removed. But now one can see this mud mixed with an assortment of plastic waste. If we citizens do not mend our ways and dispose off the waste properly, flooding of roads will be a common feature in the rains every year.
In Vasco clearing of gutters is being carried out even the South West monsoon is in full flow. Perhaps the civic body follows the saying “Better late than never” in letter and in spirit. It may not be possible to carry out the work of drains when it is raining cats and dogs. Flooding of roads lead to inconvenience to road-users and pedestrians and in low-lying areas the flooding can also lead to water entering the homes. Incessant rains have lashed the State during the past few days inundating low-lying areas and paralysing normal life. Thousands of people were inconvenienced as flooding led to massive traffic jams.
There are several lessons to be learnt from the flooding experienced in the State. The ongoing construction of the new highway at Bambolim kept most of the passages and drains blocked. This problem should be been identified much before the monsoon commenced and passage for the free flow of rains water provided for. The road after the Zuari Bridge on the Panjim side has become a road-users’ nightmare. Deep craters have developed on the roads making it extremely difficult for the traffic to move, special the two-wheelers.
Mud on the roads at the construction sites has led to slippery conditions. Several accidents have taken place here. Hill-cutting for widening of roads has also led to land-slides. Cutting of trees along the highway has led to the soil on the hill becoming loose leading to land-slides. All these problems should have been foreseen by the authorities and necessary remedial steps taken well in advance. Retaining walls could have been built to prevent land-slides at vulnerable spots.
