MARGAO: The claims and assurances made by the Public Works Department (PWD) regarding the construction of the western bypass through Mungul, Seraulim, and Benaulim have proven to be empty promises as all three areas experienced flooding on Wednesday and Thursday.
Despite the PWD building the bypass on stilts in Mungul and Seraulim, the culverts designed to facilitate water flow were insufficient. As a result, both areas not only faced waterlogging but also witnessed nearby fields being submerged, much to the dismay of local farmers.
Interestingly, residents in these areas had previously warned officials about the potential for flooding during the monsoon season. They had expressed concerns that the natural flow of stormwater had been disrupted and anticipated blockages during this period.
In Benaulim, the water levels in the Tolleabandh area, inspected by authorities on Wednesday, remained alarmingly high. Local residents noted that this was occurring even before the construction of the bypass on embankments had been completed. Their fear grows for what lies ahead once the work is fully carried out..
Seraulim railway underpass floods, commuters question authorities’ design and planning
MARGAO: The Seraulim Railway underpass faced flooding, with both passageways submerged, leaving locals to question the effectiveness of the authorities’ work. This underpass, which was recently opened to the public, has been experiencing flooding during the ongoing monsoon season.
The flood-like situation at the underpass has caused inconvenience for those using this road in recent weeks. Despite promises made by railway officials during a recent inspection to address the issue, locals have raised concerns about the design of the underpass, stating that sufficient drainage space was not created.
Adding to the skepticism, in the neighbouring village of Velsao, railway officials attempted to attribute the waterlogging to heavy rainfall, disregarding the locals’ claims that such high levels of waterlogging were unprecedented.
This has led to questions about whether proper planning was undertaken before the construction of the underpass.
