MARGAO: The torrential rains
may have eased but many parts of Salcete Taluka are still struggling to cope
with flooding, including a few houses at Comba-Margao.
Areas at Tolleband, Benaulim were also seen submerged in
rainwater on Saturday morning. Locals claimed they are witnessing this kind of
rain havoc in the locality for the first time, and blamed it on the landfilling
activities underway for the western bypass.
It is pertinent to note that the torrential rain had thrown
normal life out of gear for residents across Salcete Taluka, with rain water
entering into their houses and submerging of roads.
Areas such as Rawanfond, Comba, Mungul and Nuvem and a few other
places were still under rain water, and few residents were struggling to push
water out of their houses.
Speaking to mediapersons Maria Fernandes, former sarpanch of the
Seraulim Village Panchayat said that this is the first time in her life
witnessing the havoc of rains, as she pointed out fingers towards the
landfilling for the western bypass project.
“Yes, we used to witness flooding in the past too, but not like
this. Landfilling has been done in such a way that no path has been left for
the flow of rain water. The water is unable to even flow into the River Sal,”
she added.
On Saturday, major traffic congestion was witnessed at Comba,
due to the flooding of railway subways over here.
“We received nearly 15 calls on Friday, mostly to tend
to fallen trees and one complaint of waterlogging. All calls have been attended
to,” the staff at Fire and Emergency Services, Margao told Herald.
