Goa is back on its feet after being battered by heavy rains last week. A short spell of rain was enough to turn several key places in the State into rivers. We saw the capital struggling with roads submerged and water making their annual entry into business establishments and low lying residences. The case of Margao and surrounding places was no different. Fatorda, Bolshe circle, Ravanfond junction, Nehru stadium circle and even the adjoining road near the upcoming District Hospital were all turned into huge pools of water good enough for a short kayaking adventure.
Goa has seen flooding for several years now and despite the trail of destruction it leaves behind, the State has time and again failed to learn its lessons. And it only gets worse every year. Panaji and Margao are more prone to flooding for two reasons: Firstly, both cities are in close proximity to the rivers “ River Mandovi and River Sal. Secondly, both have absolutely no systems to manage the high-tide water which is pushed landwards during flooding. The nullahs are not equipped to channel such water which gushes in resulting in massive flooding. The river swells caused flooding in Assonora too and gates of bhandaras had to be broken open to release the water.
The state has been witnessing development at a rapid pace and low-lying catchment areas are slowly being filled up. High-rises have mushroomed with no provisions in place to drain out rain water. Last week’s flooding has once again exposed the faulty planning or the lack there of. If Fatorda and the suburbs of Margao have seen flooding, it is primarily because the low-lying catchment areas, which were once containing the water overflow, have now been wiped off. And this is precisely the same reason why villagers of Seraulim, Maddel and Benaulim are fighting for a Western bypass on stilts.
Come rains and we also see our roads falling apart with the first few drizzles. Here again, instead of being rain-ready, the state administration prefers to wait for the sun to come out to do a damage control exercise. Why is there no assessment done for quality of road works? And why is responsibility not fixed? The government can’t play with the lives of its citizens who use these roads on a day-to-day basis.
Back to flooding, government should conduct a study involving key planners and stakeholders. Genuine concerns cannot be brushed aside. Welfare and existence of villages and towns cannot be sacrificed at the altar of development. The State has not been caught off guard, Goa was given a trial midway in June when rains struck with a fury and the administration was found running for cover. Our pre-monsoon works have failed to control the damage year after year. The danger level is rising at an alarming pace and the government must take this as a serious warning from nature.
