PORVORIM: CM Pramod Sawant admitted on the floor of the House that lack of proper developmental planning has resulted into flood-like situations in several parts of the State during the ongoing monsoon.
“We have to accept that the State did not face major flooding except for a few parts, including Panjim. I admit, that due to the ongoing developmental works, these problems have occurred to some extent. Planning has been wrong to some point leading to such a situation,” said Sawant, while responding to the Motion moved on flooding by MGP MLA Sudin’ Dhavalikar.
Dhavalikar said that the heavy monsoon has washed out entire Goa, with floods witnessed all over the State especially villages near the rivers of Mandovim Zuari, Valvanti, Bicholim and other places, creating problems for locals. He sought to know the measures undertaken by the govt to prevent the situation. The house witnessed an uproar as legislators brought to the notice of the CM how the drains, nallhas are left without cleaning. They also called for reverting powers to desilt the drains back to the PWD from local bodies.
Assuring to do the needful, CM spoke of strengthening the State Disaster Management Authority and holding a review meeting immediately to assess the situation. Sawant said that toll-free number 1077 is in place to deal with disaster.
Taking a dig at the govt, GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai said that the flooding was due to development without vision. “We have been building various roads and bridges and bringing in infrastructure. We have not studied their fall out on flooding and what preventive measures can be taken. If smart Panjim can be flooded what will happen to non-smart villages?,” he questioned.
