Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) has started the pre-monsoon works with few workers and limited resources. However, citizens are apprehensive if the blocked drains will cleared before the monsoon begins.
With just seven daily wage labourers and 25 full time workers from the council, CMC is not in a position to clean bigger drains due to its financial crunch.
Citizens say that mechanised cleaning will be required since manual workers will not be able to clean all the mud and dirt from the drains.
It is noticed that the daily wage labourers just clear the weeds and clean the upper dirt layer only. Since these drains have not been cleaned properly for the last many years they are all blocked. The drainage, close to fish market is in a miserable condition with all the waste like chicken pieces and rotten vegetable thrown by the vendors.
This drainage has turned into a mosquito breeding place due to the stagnated water and dirt. This may result in an epidemic of malaria, say citizens.
The situation is likely to be worse this year because the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) is constructing a commercial building on the agricultural land which was acting as a reservoir for monsoon water. Citizens say that GSUDA had made the same mistake whilst constructing the CMC Hall and Market Complex without planning a proper drainage system. This has resulted in the market getting flooded during monsoon.
Sanitary inspector of CMC Balso Dessai told Herald that they have started ward wise pre monsoon works. They have already completed four wards and the remaining wards will be completed in 15 days. The council has employed seven daily wage labourers beside the 25 workers of CMC who do the cleaning work from10 am to 5 pm.
The only worry, the citizens say, is if the CMC will be able to clear the drains and stop the flooding during monsoon.
