Team Herald
MARGAO: The gap between Margao Municipal Council’s (MMC) claim to have completed nearly 90 percent of rain-related works across the town and ground reality leaving several areas still vulnerable to flooding has reignited calls for better planning, transparency, and execution of flood-prevention measures to safeguard town residents during monsoon.
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Voicing concern over the council’s preparedness, the residents and local representatives have complained that several areas in the town are still prone to flooding with key areas left incomplete.
They claimed that areas such as Old Station Road, Khareband, Old Market, Borda, Colmorod, and even the Margao municipal building witnessed severe water-logging during heavy rains.
Despite repeated promises of timely action, they claimed that many drains are still clogged with mud, with desilting work left incomplete.
Criticising the civic body for its lack of seriousness, former MMC chief and activist Savio Coutinho, said “Lakhs of rupees are spent on monsoon works every year, yet the same areas continue to flood. The works are poorly planned and executed just for the sake of showing something on paper. There’s hardly any evidence of proper desilting.”
Councillor Camilo Barreto acknowledged that while 80 percent of work in his ward has been completed, crucial areas such as near Apollo Pharmacy and Bodgeshwar Temple in Borda — both known for frequent flooding — are still pending cleanup.
“We are hoping these areas will be cleared before the rains intensify. If not, the lives of residents will be at risk,” he warned.
MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar maintained that monsoon works have been completed in 23 of the 25 municipal wards. Works in the remaining two — Wards 21 and 22 — expected to be completed in the coming days.
He informed that approximately 135 tonnes of silt have been removed from drains and nullahs as part of the pre-monsoon efforts.
“We are taking all necessary measures to prevent flooding. However, in some cases, flooding becomes unavoidable due to exceptionally heavy rainfall,” Shirodkar admitted.
Despite the council’s assurances, many citizens remain unconvinced, pointing to years of repeated flooding and displacement during monsoon.
