Successive dispensations of the Corporation of the City of Panaji have not been able to resolve the issue of flooding of various areas in the city and now it is time to make an herculean attempt to prevent flooding in Panaji. Before the onset of the monsoon, it would be prudent to deepen the drains especially in the areas where flooding take place. By doing so draining of water collected due to heavy rains will be faster. It is possible that during high tide the level in the Mandovi river being high impedes the outflow of the water thus leading to flooding due to back flusing. However even during high tide the level of the Mandovi does not rise above the road level. Thus at low tide or in between the high and low tide, most of the water can be drained out into the Mandovi. At least this will have a partial effect on containing flooding in the city most of the times. Merely cleaning of the existing drains may not be sufficient since the existing drainage system does not accommodate high volumes of water beneath the road level. It would be in the fitness of things this year to make a concerted attempt to sort out this issue which has been plaguing Panaji, monsoon after monsoon. If the newly installed Mayor can work with engineers to resolve this issue it will be a big relief for the Panjimites. A resolute attempt should be made nonetheless.
