PANJIM: Unseasonal rains on Saturday morning may have brought a huge relieaf from the blistering heat but the heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds left the Smart City works in complete disarray in the capital, Panjim.
The heavy morning showers pushed mud into the gutters and flooded critical parts of the city, bringing traffic in parts of the city to a standstill. The half complete drainage system done by Smart City works was rendered useless. The Smart City roads near Mathias Plaza, near Hindu Pharmacy and at St Inez were soaked, ruining the works and completely driving the people who stay in that area to despair.
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A number of vehicles were stuck in the muck created by Smart City mess. In some places, the roads caved in, raising concerns about the quality of Smart City works. Since the roads were flooded a number of commuters were stranded in the city for over two hours.
The 18th June Road, the road in front of the Corporation of the City of Panaji and the footpaths touching the Masjid were flooded and the gutter slabs had to be removed to allow the water to drain. Traffic on these roads were closed since water entered the shops. The major tragedy in Panjim was that the footpath near Nova Goa caved in, just 50 metres from the BJP office, along Atmaram Borkar road. The water and dirt from Altinho flowed down the road, leaving thrash in front of the Immaculate Conception Church steps.
Commenting on the flooding, CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate said, “CCP has done its work. Last year also it happened that it flooded for half hour and thereafter nothing happened. This is a regular thing, the water stays for an hour. The Masjid road was flooded. Any area where Smart City has been done, its work is flooded. We had a meeting with the Chief Secretary and Smart City officials on Friday saying the work should be completed.”
He said, “Although they have completed some road the drain connections have not been done. On Monday, we will have another meeting and we don’t want this to happen again.”
People were frustrated that flooding is occurring for the past 30 years. “They have not cleaned the gutters and water has entered our shops. The Smart City work is going on. The water takes one hour to recede,” a woman shopkeeper near Jama Masjid said.
Avertino Miranda who was caught in the rains said, “We have said right from the beginning that this is sub-standard work.” Pointing to the caving in of the footpath near Nova Goa, he said, “This is a clear indication. There is no safety for the citizens of Panjim. Roads are flooded, cars are getting stuck in water and footpaths are caving in. What is Smart here? Complete sub-standard quality of work. The roads, footpaths, sewage chambers are not built properly.”
