TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The failure to clear the St Inez Creek and to connect the new sewerage network in Taleigao to the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Tonca, led to inundation of nearby fields and consequent flooding of Camrabhat and other areas of Tonca. The area faced severe flooding after heavy and incessant rainfall on Friday and Saturday.
The locals residing in the area have accused Public Works Department over its lethargy in completing the work of laying the sewage pipeline. “We had warned PWD much in advance about the possible flooding of Camrabhat and other areas of Tonca, if it rained heavily. However, our warning was taken lightly,” said Mohan Prabhudesai, who resides at Tonca, right near the creek.
The PWD has 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 affected by the increasing siltation of the creek and the two projects, as the water bodies naturally drain water from fields and habitations for centuries.
The PWD officials from Work Division II (Road) clarified that only half the width of the creek is blocked to do the work, while the other half allows the free flow of water.
But this time the rains showed that this was not enough. The culvert and the roads in the areas were totally submerged by Saturday evening.
Panjim, the capital city, has been reeling under flood-like situation nearly every year. This year though it was one of the worst-affected areas as water entered in few of the houses in Taleigao, St Inez, Nagali, Tonca and Mala. The government machinery was stretched in dealing with the situation.
