The pre-monsoon rains which lashed Goa in a big way on Wednesday, undoubtedly brought some relief from the sweltering heat but have also exposed the level of preparedness for the looming monsoon. With monsoon expected to set over Goa next week, the State administration was caught on the wrong foot. Clearing of clogged drains was yet to take off in several places and the ensuing heavy downpour exposed it all. Water flooded markets, shops, residential houses, offices and virtually inundated all low-lying areas. The state administration is known for its late rush to put the house in order and gear up for monsoon. Moreover it is rather surprising that the very own backyard of Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardessai’s is flooded despite plans in place for a major pre-monsoon clean up. The MMC’s work order for drain desilting works of over Rs 7 lakhs in all wards should have come much earlier and all drains should have been cleared before the last week of May. In a bizarre move, the TCP minister launched desilting works of major nullahs in his Fatorda constituency even as the pre-monsoon showers descended in full fury. We haven’t learnt our lessons from the past. The slow and tardy work of preparedness is a yearly feature. So also is the blame game that follows. It’s time to swing into action and get the act together. The pre-monsoon test was a big failure. The bigger test is awaited.
