Team Herald
MAPUSA: An unexpected heavy first shower resulted in Mapusa town being flooded within two hours. Mapusa market which is in a low lying area was flooded with all the water flowing down from the hills. The failure to complete the de-silting of gutters and drains and the reconstruction within the given deadline meant there was no proper source for the water to flow. The water entered the shops in the market apart from affecting the business of street vendors.
“Previously, the water used to flow properly, but now since all the drains are damaged there is no source for water flow. Some damaged drains were not reconstructed which means the water cannot flow in one direction. The size of the previous drains were much bigger than the new ones resulting in water flowing out of the drains and entering into shops, but none of the authorities from GSUDA and MMC are bothered to take any action,” shop owner said.
Another local said, “Within half an hour water got accumulated in the market. The work of de-silting and construction should have been done two months back, but the authorities are carrying it out now when the rain has already started. Without proper drainage system or gutter, the well water is also affected since the waste flows and gets accumulated anywhere.”
Along with the flooding of Mapusa market and major nallas, people also faced problem of power shutdown in the town and other areas of Siolim, Aldona and Moira.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Rohan Kavlekar said, “The works undertaken by the MMC are completed before time, but the works of Mapusa market and surrounding areas is taken up by GSUDA and MMC is not responsible for it. We inspected the situation at Mapusa market and cleared most of the drains which were blocked. Also many nallas in other areas such as Khorlim were flooded since the water flow was high and logged due to waste thrown into the nahllas.”
