By Upendra Naik
Residents of Bhatlem and surrounding areas erupted in anger after gross negligence by Smart City contractors resulted in a catastrophic burst of the main water pipeline, leaving homes flooded and property destroyed.
As citizens battled rising waters, authorities remained conspicuously absent, fueling outrage and demands for accountability.
However , Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd. (IPSCDL) clarifies that the recent water pipeline burst at Bhatlem, which led to water wastage and temporary flooding in low-lying areas, was not caused by any Smart City-related works.
In a Press release by IPSCDL it says , the issue originated due to an internal pipeline end cap breakage inside Dhanlaxmi Colony, an entirely unrelated matter. IPSCDL has not undertaken any activities in the affected zone that could have led to this incident.
On Sunday morning at around 10 AM, the ongoing work on a Smart City sewage chamber in the Bhatlem area turned into a nightmare for residents when a 600 MLD main water pipeline burst, unleashing a torrent of water into Dhanlaxmi Nagar Society.
Within minutes, homes were inundated, with water seeping into kitchens, damaging appliances, and leaving families scrambling to save their belongings
Despite the severity of the situation, officials from Imagine Panaji and the Panjim Municipal Corporation (PMC) failed to visit the affected areas for hours, leaving residents feeling abandoned.
Furious homeowners demanded immediate action against those responsible for this reckless negligence and urged authorities to compensate them for their massive losses.
The flooding wreaked havoc on at least seven to eight homes in the Bhatle area, with precious household items including refrigerators, washing machines, and kitchen appliances submerged.
Residents reported knee-deep water inside their homes for nearly four hours, while no assistance arrived from the administration.
We were sleeping when, suddenly, filthy water rushed into our house. Our kitchen, our furniture—everything was ruined.Worse, this water has come from the sewer! Now we’re scared of falling sick, but no one from the administration has even bothered to check on us
Reshma Makandar - Affected Resident
Beyond the damage to homes, the incident resulted in an enormous wastage of water, with lakhs of liters lost before authorities finally managed to halt the supply
For more than three hours, flood victims waited for relief, but it wasn’t until much later that engineers from the Public Works Department arrived with JCB machines to assess the damage.
Even as repair work began, officials remained tight-lipped about when the water supply would be restored or when the homes would be drained of the contaminated water.
Adding to the residents’ worries, experts warn that exposure to sewage-contaminated water could lead to serious health hazards if immediate sanitation measures aren’t taken.
However, no government agency has stepped in to address the looming public health crisis.
The incident has further dented public trust in the much-hyped Smart City project, which continues to face severe criticism over mismanagement, delays, and lack of oversight.
With no official statements forthcoming, residents are left wondering: Who will be held accountable for this disaster, and when will justice be served?