PANJIM: As the Water Resources Department (WRD) Department is all set to commission the ‘flood mitigation measures and construction of flood water pumping station’ project, the department has expressed confidence that it will resolve decades- long flooding issues this monsoon in low lying areas of Mala, Panjim.
The local residents including the current and a former councillor have raised doubt over the claim of the WRD, they say that they will wait and watch to see if this project yields any positive results or not in the monsoon.
As per the details provided by WRD, the project has been executed at an estimated cost of Rs 14.20 crore under the Smart City Mission. The pump house is supported on concrete end bearing piles and house five low suction and high discharge pumps. The pumping station is powered by two Gensets of 320 KVA capacity.
“Necessary provisions have been made in the road to accommodate the delivery lines of the pumping station and all drains of the surrounding residential area are re-connected to the lake so as to drain the flood water into the lake from where it will be pumped into Rua de Ourem creek. We are confident that this project will resolve the issue of flooding in low lying areas,” the engineer concerned of the WRD said.
He informed that actuator gates are provided along the creek entry/exit points to control seepage and entry of high tide water unto the low lying area.
“Flood water pumping station project will resolve the flooding issue of just 20 odd houses located adjacent to Mala lake; it will not resolve the issues at other flooding points particularly People’s High School and Neugi Nagar areas. During monsoon, houses along the creek will half submerge as my suggestion to the government to construct retaining walls for protection of those houses has fallen on deaf ear,” Councillor of the area Shubham Chodankar said.
Former CCP Councillor Menino da Cruz said, “I doubt if it will resolve the issue of flooding. Three different types of water will accumulate in the Mala lake i.e. rain water, water from drains and sewage. The Goa State Pollution Control Board should keep a watch and draw samples for testing water that will be pumped into Rua de Ourem creek.”
Pranav Shanbhag, a resident of Mala said that people should not get carried away by the promises and claims of the government and added that they should wait for the results once the pumping station is commissioned and put to use.
“I don’t think that it will resolve the flooding issue completely, let’s not jump the gun. Monsoon is at the corner, let’s wait and watch,” he said.
