Recent showers expose Margao’s vulnerability to monsoons
In the year 2014, the heavy showers at the beginning of the monsoon period flooded Margao. This was on account of the failure of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) to carry out pre-monsoon work like clearing of clogged drainages. In fact, locals continued to face the brunt throughout the monsoon season with water logged roads becoming the norm from June to October.
Sadly, it appears that the MMC has not learnt its lessons and the recent showers exposed the unpreparedness of the civic body.
Locals have vented their disappointment to the MMC for failing to prevent flood-like situations in areas across the city. Residents point out that there are two major nullahs which collect the rain water from the city and which subsequently join the River Sal. All the major nullahs are blocked when the rains started and the low lying areas of Comba, Malbhat, Tolleband, Old station road and Khareband face imminent flooding if there is heavy rainfall due to the clogged gutters.
“The subway at the railway crossing in Margao usually gets flooded quickly making it difficult for vehicles to pass through,” said Aditya Naik, a resident near Damodar College who said that they have to wait to cross the railway crossing as the subway is not accessible to the public considering it gets inundated.
Other locals pointed out that the gutters opposite the PWD office at Fatorda also overflowed with water which made its way into the nullah. This leads to roads covered with water and that areas in the vicinity of old market area including the SGPDA market and KTC bus stand in Margao were flooded recently during the rains.
At Margao old station road, locals have complained that the storm drains on the Margao station road have not been cleaned as part of the pre-monsoon work by the MMC resulting in the frequent water-logging even after half an hour of rain.
Furthermore, vendors in the MMC run markets complain that not enough care had been taken regarding pre monsoon work and it is the public who have to face the brunt of the rains.
“You just have to walk in the market during the rain to realize how bad conditions get,” said Ramesh Sawant, a vendor at Gandhi market.
It is to be noted that the MMC Chief officer has already written to the PWD and sewerage department regarding the repair work required on nulllahs that overflow in view of the forthcoming monsoon season.
“Pre-monsoon work is now totally supervised by councillors after their demand that two labourers per ward be continued like last time. We discontinued the roster based de-silting programme which uploaded work progress on our website. The councillors objected to this new method,” said Margao Municipal Council chief officer Naveen S.L.
Newly inducted chairperson Arthur D’silva however, said that he would not waste any time to see that all such work is taken care of on a priority basis. He added that he would speak to the staff and councillors concerned and ensure that all pre-monsoon work is carried out in time and in an orderly fashion.
