The Miramar Circle, in any case a vulnerable area, is facing increased flooding this year The circle, which has a beautiful Holy Cross, located right opposite the Miramar Beach, is now saturated with four and two-wheeler vehicles being parked across the circle, leading to traffic congestion. All thanks to Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). The long undergoing project of constructing a concrete road to Dona Paula has blocked the entire way towards Miramar to Dona Paula.
The heavy rains that are lashing the city for last couple of days has led to the flooding of this spot causing major hindrance to the travelers, with local councilor and Mayor Surendra Furtado accusing the Public Works Department (PWD) of failing to take necessary measures while undertaking sewage work.
The PWD had blocked a spot on the St Inez Creek at Tonca to lay a 700-mm diameter pipeline from St Inez in the east to Tonca in the west to feed the sewage from Taleigao to the new plant. Residents of St Inez, Taleigao and Caranzalem have raised apprehensions that the free flow of rain water may be impacted by the increasing siltation of the creek and the two projects, as the water bodies naturally drain water to fields and habitations. Furtado said that the entire road stretch from Dona Paula to Miramar and further till the Panjim ferry point is manned by PWD, who for last two years have failed to clean the drains along the road side. Further, he said the ongoing sewage work has led to the forced pumping out of the mud water releasing it on road. “The water then flows towards the low area thusleading to water logging,” he explained.
Even locals in the surrounding areas are frustrated with the PWD “If it rains heavily, the area near the circle gets flooded completely.” Roshal D’Souza from Miramar said. The PWD officials from Work Division II (Road) were not available for comment.
On top, barely 2 km away to the west, GSIDC is constructing a concrete road to Dona Paula, from where the water is also flowing towards the lowlying area of Miramar Circle. Fears are also being raised that a few tributaries carrying rain water from internal areas of Caranzalem towards the sea would be blocked by the conduit envisaged for service lines along the road.
HERALD in the past had run series of campaign on the lethargic attitude of GSIDC and the hardship faced by the people traveling along this route, especially the students from Sharada Mandir School.
With the road work incomplete and the rains in full flow, this area is indeed getting unsafe.
